NCJ Number
58278
Journal
Police Magazine Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: (JULY 1979) Pages: 20-25
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
AIRBORNE UNITS AS INTEGRAL PARTS OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN SEVERAL U.S. CITIES ARE DISCUSSED; PRIMARY ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITS INCLUDING MEDICAL EVACUATION ARE HIGHLIGHTED.
Abstract
AVIATION UNITS FILL A WIDE RANGE OF ASSIGNMENTS, INCLUDING TRAFFIC PATROL, CRIME PREVENTION, CRIMINAL APPREHENSION, SURVEILLANCE, SEARCH AND RESCUE, SURVEY OF DISASTER AREAS, AND MEDICAL EVACUATION. THE FIRST POLICE AVIATION DIVISION IN THE COUNTRY WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE LATE 1920'S BY THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT. TODAY, 164 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE NOW OPERATING AIRBORNE UNITS. TWENTY-SIX STATE GOVERNMENTS NOW UNDERWRITE THE COST OF OPERATING 99 HELICOPTERS, AND SIMILAR FUNDING IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE COUNTY AND CITY LEVELS. IN ADDITION, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION PROVIDES GRANTS; IT HAS MADE 31 GRANTS TO AIRBORNE UNITS TOTALING $2,847,000 IN THE LAST TEN YEARS. THERE IS, HOWEVER, GREAT DISPARITY IN THE LOCATION, SIZE, AND BUDGETS OF AAIRBORNE UNITS IN THE UNITED STATES. FOR EXAMPLE, BOSTON, CLEVELAND, AND PHILADELPHIA HAVE NO SUCH UNITS, BUT COLUMBUS, OHIO HAS A RELATIVELY LARGE ONE. BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS ARE A FACTOR, BUT IT APPEARS THAT PUBLIC RELATIONS, (I.E., HOW AND TO WHOM THE IDEA FOR AIRBORNE SERVICES IS SOLD ON THE LOCAL OR STATE LEVEL) IS THE MAJOR FACTOR. THOSE STATES SUCH AS MARYLAND WHO HAVE AIRBORNE UNITS IN OPERATION ARE OVERWHELMINGLY IN FAVOR OF THEM. THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE ATTRIBUTES THE SAVING OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES TO THE EFFICIENT MEDICAL EVACUATION OF ACCIDENT VICTIMS TO BALTIMORE'S MEDICAL INSTITUTE FOR EMERGENCY MEDICINE; 82 PERCENT OF ACCIDENT VICTIMS MADE IT TO THE HOSPITAL ALIVE. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT MAXIMUM BENEFITS TO THE TAXPAYER ARE REALIZED WHEN AIRBORNE UNITS ARE REGARDED AS MULTIPURPOSE OPERATIONS, WITH USE OF THE SYSTEM IN AS MANY WAYS AS POSSIBLE. PHOTOGRAPHS INCLUDED.