NCJ Number
84306
Date Published
1981
Length
10 pages
Annotation
The functions and advantages of aerial surveillance are discussed, along with a comparison of the use of helicopters with fixed-wing airplanes and advice on crew selection.
Abstract
Personnel savings are obvious when two airborne and two ground officers can replace a six- or eight-person team attempting ground surveillance alone. This, with the higher success ratio and decreased likelihood of detection, makes air surveillance a preferred method of physical surveillance. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, one of the forerunners in aircraft use in law enforcement, uses aircraft to improve police response time, demonstrate day and night surveillance methods, increase patrol observation, increase officer security, and reduce crime in the project area. Other functions of police aircraft are emergency transport of accident victims, traffic surveillance, and search-and-rescue missions. The versatile and highly mobile helicopter can be invaluable for surveillance in a congested high-building environment and for use under low-visibility flight conditions suitable only for slow-moving aircraft; however, for the majority of law enforcement missions, the less expensive small airplane is equally suitable and considerably less noisy and obvious as a police surveillance vehicle. Most police agencies which use aircraft have pilots first trained as law enforcement officers who are also licensed pilots. Many agencies have found it more advantageous to train aircrew members from within their ranks, first as law enforcement personnel and then to achieve flight proficiency by additional flight training. There has been no court ruling to date which challenges the use of aerial surveillance on the basis of privacy rights.