Columbus Police Defend Six-Helicopter Unit
Alternative content
CPD Chopper Unit
The commander of Columbus police's Helicopter Unit makes his case for having six helicopters to patrol city skies.Published: July 17, 2009
Updated: July 17, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio—With voters set to decide on an income tax increase that supporters say would save police and firefighter jobs, the Columbus Division of Police’s Helicopter Unit commander made his case today for having six helicopters to patrol city skies.
Speaking at the police department’s new $6.8 million heliport on West Broad Street, Lt. Michael Elkins said the helicopter unit’s $3.4 million annual budget is needed to protect residents and police officers’ lives.
“We’re more responsive, we’re faster, we provide information and we provide suspect location,“ Elkins said. “I think Columbus gets it. I don’t want to go in another direction. I think the helicopter unit is
hugely important. I think the helicopter becomes more and more important if you have a reduction in personnel.“
The city’s six helicopters are more than the vast majority of major cities, with notable exceptions such as New York City, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Houston. Similar cities have far less helicopters, if any at all. Detroit, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh police do not own helicopters. Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Austin police own two helicopters.
Elkins defended Columbus’ fleet as “ahead of the curve,“ saying he would argue the helicopter unit is more important than redirecting the money to put more officers on the street.
“If the city of Columbus told me to sell two helicopters I would try to make it work, but I think we’re going to start missing flight time,“ Elkins said.
Residents differed in their opinion of which was more important: helicopter or ground support.
“I think they ought to find some other place to cut,“ said Georgia Speakman, a west side resident. “I know they’re around here all the time, we see them all the time. So I still believe we need every one of them—and if we cut back on that we’re going to have more crime.“
“I would prefer police on the ground. In the air, that’s optional. We need more police that are going to be able to out walking, more in the communities,“ said Fran Simmons of Columbus’ east side. “People trying to commit a crime can actually see them and know maybe it might deter them from trying to do something wrong.“
For additional information, stay with nbc4i.com and NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail us at
.
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
My point is.
3/4 of the Helicopter Unit budget (salary and benefits) is not going away if you eliminate the Unit.
Instead of comparing the Division of Police to other departments its size or the size of city, start interviewing the officer’s within those other departments that don’t have a Helicopter/Aviation Unit.
If you talk to any officer within a department with an Aviation Unit you will discover what a priceless asset it is.
You are right, there is nothing wrong with having one of the best police forces in the nation, but that was at a time when the city could afford to have one of the best. Times are tough all over and the city needs to make cuts, and the helipcoptors should be one of those cuts. Not all, but by half at least.
Well, not much to say to that angry person….It’s funny…It takes at least 3 years to get into the Helicopter Unit. 3 YEARS!!! Working the street. 8+ hours a day. However the average officer in the unit probably has about 15-20 years on…So imagine the time they have vested in this city and the thousands of arrest they have made combined….THOUSANDS of ARREST!!! Too bad the media didn’t tell you (or you were just to lazy and ignorant) that OVER HALF OF THE BUSGET FOR THE UNIT IS SALARY AND BENEFITS…. And while I am having to clear your mind of ignorant thoughts, those officers in the Unit, if reduced in size or eliminated would make more money on the street as an officer due to overtime anyway. So when you look at the benefits of the Unit, its mission and accomplishments in the past 35 years (A Nationwide Leader in Law Enforcement Aviation) I would say you argument is very poor and not thought out…Although I agree, the city should save money…You need to examine the waste of money within the city and the lack lack of efficient fiscal management. So before your sarcastic and beligerent side kicks in, think it out a bit more, the safety of our children (the future), our schools, our communities and businesses rely soley upon the idea that we can all function daily without an overwhelming concern about crime and violence. This city or any city for that matter would turn to crap if the police and fire are reduced to bare bones. It is time the citizens stand together and look to the future with public safety, proactive policing in mind. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH HAVING ONE OF THE BEST POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES.
Stop believing what the media feeds you on the TV and Newspaper.
****Don’t believe anything you her and only half of what you see…****
gobuckeyes43210…how right you are! And it would make all our jobs easier if we had access to such ammenities as helicopters….for that matter it would make my grocery shopping a lot more fun! Forget helicopters! Have the cops on the streets on bicycles and horseback and out of their air-conditioned donut shops - oops, I meant cruisers! If helicopters are THAT effective, let’s go with some apache helicopters!....or even better…Harrier jets! Now talk about your crime deterrant!!!
COLEMAN - SELL THE COPTERS AND USE THE MONEY FOR REAL POLICE ON REAL STREETS!!
WHY DOESN’T CPD FLY 2 HELICOPTERS LIKE MIAMI PD OR AUSTIN PD OR PITTSBURG? Because the MEDIA didn’t tell you everything….Don’t be fooled.
Miami Police fly ASTAR Helicopters which cost $3.5 million EACH. One Helicopter is more than the budget of CPD! Not to mention Miami Police have ordered more and are awaiting shipment!!! Like the Helicopter Lt. said, each Department mission is different and CPD is patrol missions. Working directly with ground units. The heart of CPD or any police department is Patrol. I am sure if you asked any patrol officers they would agree the Helicopter has been instrumental in effecting arrest every shift, every day, year in and year out. So next time your house gets broke into, your car is stolen, a drunk driver is going the wrong way on the freeway or any incident where response time is critical remember the role a Helciopter plays in making an apprehension. Its reassuring to know that if needed a Helicopter could respond and many times, just the presence deters crime from happening in my neighborhood. Thank You!
A MODEST PROPOSAL (idea stolen from J.S.)
Crime occurs because the RISK-REWARD ratio [RI:RE] favors the criminal.
Example: Many of us, when encountering a stop sign with NO approaching vehicular traffic and NO pedestrian traffic slow almost to a stop with the wheels moving but barely so. Such conduct is a traffic offense because stop means that the wheels are NOT moving. Risk is low, reward is high, RI:RE is a low number. Most folks would not call the police when witnessing such an event with no other problems present.
A way to reduce crime, IMO, would be to tweak the risk number so that the criminal would loose motivation to offend.
For major crimes involving violence, identity theft, theft, remove the predator from the environment period.
Those caught red-handed are to be removed NOW period.
When word hits the street that offenders are removed from the environment and possibly NOW, those contemplating serious transgressions may well opt out.
Eventually crime should decrease to a point where Columbus helicopter decreases, and Columbus could rent helicopter patrol to smaller nearby communities with lower budgets and higher crime.
The predatory criminal must understand that removal from the environment can be a very harsh punishment.
JPA8 - don’t think there is only crime in the inner city. The outlying areas are just as violent as the inner city and the more expansive territory is served greatly by having the choppers. Until anyone has been “out on an island”, waiting for backup on an outlying precinct, don’t be too harsh on the choppers. The area they can cover and search is immense. They are an invaluable tool.
The shame of it all is the disproportionate amount of money spent on lots of choppers and lots of cops to tend to a problem that almost disappears outside a radius of 20 miles from Main and Parsons. It will stay that way until it is dealt with in an honest and effective manner.
Oops…I said “Richmond” when I meant to say “Richland County” sorry
VOLUNTEERS HELP CASH-STRAPPED OHIO SHERIFF
That’s the heading on news article from July 18th about Richmond, Ohio. He doesn’t need volunteers!!! He needs HELICOPTERS!!!!!
Post a Comment(Requires free registration)
- Please avoid offensive, vulgar, or hateful language.
- Respect others.
- Use the "Flag Comment" link when necessary.
- See the Terms and Conditions for details.
Advertisement