NCJ Number
54826
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 55 Issue: 4 Dated: (APRIL 1978) Pages: 67-71
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE EXPERIENCES OF THE PASADENA, CALIF., POLICE DEPARTMENT IN ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE POLICE HELICOPTER PATROL OPERATION ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
THE SOCIAL PROBLEMS OF MASSIVE URBAN REDEVELOPMENT, CHANGING SOCIAL MORES, SHIFTING POPULATION GROUPS, AND THE INNER CITY SYNDROME COMPELLED THE PASADENA, CALIF., POLICE DEPARTMENT TO USE AERIAL POLICE PATROLS DURING THE 1970'S. THE HELICOPTERS HAVE BEEN IMPORTANT LAW ENFORCEMENT DEVICES ESPECIALLY IN THE APPREHENSION OF FLEEING SUSPECTS AND THE RECOVERY OF STOLEN PROPERTY. EXAMPLES ARE PROVIDED OF SITUATIONS INVOLVING HELICOPTERS AS PURSUIT VEHICLES AND IN THE DETERRENCE OF BURGLARY. SPECIFICALLY, THE HELICOPTER HAS ELIMINATED THE DANGEROUS ASPECTS OF THE HIGH-SPEED PURSUIT OF SUSPECTS BY POLICE CARS, THE ARDUOUS SEARCH FOR SUSPECTS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS, AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUSPECTS' ESCAPE. THESE HELICOPTER FUNCTIONS DIRECTLY ENHANCE OFFICER SAFETY AND REDUCE THE NUMBER OF POTENTIAL HAZARDS THAY MAY CONFRONT OFFICERS. THE USE OF THE POLICE HELICOPTER IS SHOWN TO HAVE HAD A MAJOR IMPACT ON PREVENTING AN INCREASE IN THE CRIME RATE IN PASADENA DURING THE PERIOD OF 1970 TO 1976. THE USE OF THE BEST PERSONNEL IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE HELICOPTER PATROL IS SEEN AS THE MOST IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM. THE HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM, AND THE INTERRELATION OF THE HELICOPTER AND CAR PATROLS IS DISCUSSED. SEE ALSO NCJ 53589 AND 53572 (TWK).