NCJ Number
35107
Date Published
1972
Length
125 pages
Annotation
FINAL REPORT DESCRIBING AN EVALUATION OF THE RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENTS HELICOPTER PATROL PROGRAM, THE MONITORING AND CONSULTATION PERFORMED BY THE EVALUATORS, AND THE PROGRAM TRAINING AND ORIENTATION COMPONENTS.
Abstract
THE RESEARCH DATA INDICATES THAT THE ACE HELICOPTERS SPEND THE MAJOR PORTION OF THEIR AIRBORNE TIME ON PATROL. FURTHER, OF THE MAJOR CRIMES, THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF TIME WAS DEVOTED TO THE HANDLING OF BURGLARIES. ALSO OF SIGNIFICANCE WAS THE FINDING THAT THE AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME PER CALL FOR SERVICE WAS UNDER TWO MINUTES. THE CAPABILITY FOR A RAPID RESPONSE CAUSED THE HELICOPTER TO ARRIVE FIRST AT THE LOCATION OF THE CALL IN NEARLY HALF OF THE INCIDENTS. THE ANALYSIS OF ACTUAL AND PREDICTED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY SHOWED THAT CRIME DECREASED IN THE TARGET AREAS THOUGHT TO BE MOST VULNERABLE TO HELICOPTER PATROL - ROBBERY, BURGLARY, AND AUTO THEFT. A COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF THE POLICE HELICOPTER COMPARED TO RADIO CARS IS SAID TO HAVE FURTHER VALIDATED THE EFFECTIVENESS AND UTILITY OF PROJECT ACE. FINALLY, A COMMUNITY ATTITUDE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF THE EVALUATION PERIOD, THE RESULTS OF WHICH WERE OVERWHELMINGLY IN FAVOR OF ACE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)