NCJ Number
53572
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 45 Issue: 2 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1978) Pages: 57-60,81
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE AERIAL PATROL PROGRAM USING HELICOPTERS, AS PART OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORT IN PASADENA, CALIF. IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE DECISION WAS MADE BY THE CITY TO AUGMENT GROUND POLICE UNITS WITH AERIAL PATROLS. IT WAS RECOGNIZED THAT HELICOPTERS COULD TRAVEL FASTER THAN PATROL CARS AND THAT HELICOPTERS COULD VIEW THE SAME SUBJECT 10 TIMES LONGER THAN PATROL CARS. SOCIAL, DEMOGRAPHIC, AND GEOGRAPHIC FACTORS WERE CONSIDERED IN THE DECISION TO INITIATE THE AERIAL PATROL PROGRAM AS ONE WAY TO PREVENT CRIME. A 1-YEAR TAX WAS LEVIED TO HELP PAY FOR TWO HELICOPTERS AND FLIGHT SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST FOUR PILOTS. AFTER FORMAL INITIATION OF THE PROGRAM IN 1969, THE PASADENA POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS ADMITTED TO THE RANKS OF THE AIRBORNE LAW ENFORCEMENT FRATERNITY IN 1970. AN INTENSIVE COMMUNITY RELATIONS CAMPAIGN WAS LAUNCHED TO HANDLE NOISE COMPLAINTS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORTS WERE PREPARED. THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM IS INDICATED BY A STEADY DECLINE IN THE CRIME RATE OF THE CITY. (DEP)