HomeMy WebLinkAbout14 - NB-1 - Alternatives for Helicopter Services - 6/7/2011CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: JUNE 7, 2011 ITEM NUMBER:
SUBJECT: ALTERNATIVES FOR HELICOPTER SERVICES
DATE: JUNE 2, 2011
FROM: OFFICE OF THE CEO
PRESENTATION BY: THOMAS R. HATCH, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: TOM HATCH, (714) 754-5328
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Authorize the CEO to administratively execute a short-term contract with the City of
Huntington Beach, in a form to be approved by the City Attorney, for helicopter
support services from July 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011 for a not to exceed
amount of $100,000;
2. Authorize staff to work with any interested parties to explore a public-private
partnership model for helicopter services; and
3. Authorize staff to continue with the process of discontinuing the Airborne Law
Enforcement Program, but not to sell any equipment until authorized by the City
Council.
BACKGROUND:
On February 15, 2011, the City Council voted to dissolve the Airborne Law Enforcement
Program (ABLE). Attachment 1 of this report is the Staff Report from the February 15th
meeting that provides additional detail about the issues involved in that decision. On April
6, 2011, the City of Huntington Beach Police Department provided a proposal to the cities
of Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Santa Ana for contract helicopter services.
Attachment 2 of this report is the proposal. In late April and May 2011, a Newport Beach
businessman introduced the idea of forming a public-private partnership that would allow
for current levels of air patrol over Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, and Santa Ana at reduced
rates. While the proposal in concept is intriguing, the merit of this verbal proposal is
unknown and it has been communicated that it may take several months to develop and
study this proposal and maybe longer if a formal Request for Proposal process would
need to be completed.
Per City Council direction, the ABLE Program is scheduled to discontinue operations on
June 30, 2011 and the only funding in the Preliminary Budget for next year is the ABLE
Commander position. The CEO's recommended reorganization plan for the Police
Department is also going to include $100,000 in General Fund dollars for contract
helicopter services.
1
The City Manager of the City of Newport Beach has notified the CEO for Costa Mesa that
Newport Beach will be taking a similar approach and contracting helicopter services from
Huntington Beach while deciding if a public-private helicopter partnership is viable.
ANALYSIS:
The attached Proposal from Huntington Beach includes background information on their
Air Support Unit, response times, heliport, Unit assets, external load capabilities, noise
complaints/comparisons, flight schedule, special events, SWAT support, benefits, the
proposed hourly rate and a conclusion. The proposed hourly rate is $700 per hour which
is significantly less expensive than what ABLE charges for an hourly rate of $1,845.29.
The Proposal does not discuss details related to specific patrol times for Costa Mesa or
emergency response protocol and therefore it is recommended that these details be left to
the Costa Mesa Police Chief to negotiate and include in the final agreement between the
two agencies. Costa Mesa Police Department staff will be in continuous communication
with Huntington Beach staff and will monitor the agreement for compliance with the
conditions and adjust service needs as necessary.
The Costa Mesa Police Department obtained information and background on other
potential public agencies that provide helicopter services but given the very limited options
for this specialized service along with Costa Mesa's proximity to Huntington Beach, a
proposal was only requested from Huntington Beach. Staff understands that the City of
Santa Ana is pursuing an agreement with the Orange County Sheriff's Department
(OCSD) for air support services at an hourly rate of $944 per hour. Any agreement
between the OCSD and Santa Ana for air patrol time will enhance the availability of
supportive air support services that can be requested by Costa Mesa as mutual aid.
If a contract with Huntington Beach is authorized, the goal will be to have the agreement
finalized as soon as possible and before the 4t" of July Holiday. This would allow our
Police Department to request additional air support over the entire 4t" of July Holiday
weekend.
Attachment 3 is a memorandum from Interim Police Chief Steve Staveley that discusses
the ABLE Program and includes an excerpt from the May 19, 2011 ABLE Board Meeting.
At this meeting, the Board approved a motion to propose to the Costa Mesa City Council
that they extend the ABLE program to continue to October 1, 2011 so that additional
research can be done with this additional expense coming out of the ABLE reserve fund.
This action was taken before administrative staff of Newport Beach had decided to pursue
a short-term contract with Huntington Beach instead of recommending the temporary
continuation of the ABLE Program.
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED:
1. Keep the ABLE Program in its present state (past the June 30, 2011 deadline)
until a decision can be made on the viability of a public-private partnership. It is
unknown at this time exactly what this would cost the City and would likely be
unaffordable if Newport Beach is not a full partner in the operations.
2. Discontinue any helicopter support services at this time but continue to explore
the possibility of a public-private partnership.
E
3. Discontinue any helicopter support services at this time and continue to appraise
the assets and proceed to sell the ABLE assets as soon as possible.
FISCAL REVIEW:
A short-term contract with Huntington Beach will include a not to exceed amount of
$100,000. Funding for FY 2011-2012 has been included in the Police Department Budget
in the amount of $212,000 from the General Fund for the ABLE Commander position. In
addition, $100,000 for contract air support services will be included along with the CEO's
recommended reorganization plan for the Police Department for consideration by the City
Council.
LEGAL REVIEW:
No specific legal review is required at this time. If the City Council chooses to authorize a
short-term contract with Huntington Beach, the City Attorney's Office would review and
approve the agreement as to form before it is executed by the CEO. If the public-private
alternative is explored, an unknown amount of legal costs will be required. The CEO will
monitor and authorize legal costs as appropriate related to the City Council direction.
CONCLUSION:
On June 30, 2011, the City of Costa Mesa is scheduled to discontinue the ABLE Program.
A short-term contract with Huntington Beach for helicopter support services will allow for
the continuation of a limited amount of services at a substantially lower rate than the full-
time ABLE Program. The $700 per hour rate that Huntington Beach is proposing to
charge is a reasonable rate. If authorized, staff will proceed to allocate staff time and legal
costs to explore any public-private partnership that is proposed to the City.
THOMAS R. HATCH
Chief Executive Officer
LAWRENCE D. HURST
Finance Director
STEVE STAVELEY
Police Chief
THOMAS DUARTE
City Attorney
ATTACHMENTS: 1 February 15, 2011 Staff Report
2 Proposal from Huntington Beach
3 Memo From Chief Staveley
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ATTACHMENT 1
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: February 15, 2011 ITEM NUMBER:
SUBJECT: DISSOLUTION OF AIRBORNE LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES
DATE: FEBRUARY 9, 2011
FROM: CITY MANAGER'S DEPARTMENT
PRESENTATION BY: THOMAS R. HATCH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
TIM STARN, ABLE COMMANDER
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: THOMAS R. HATCH, 714 754-5288,
RECOMMENDATION:
The City Council Budget Working Group is recommending that the City Council dissolve
the Airborne Law Enforcement (ABLE) Program and direct staff to proceed to take the
necessary administrative steps to complete this action including notifying respective ABLE
partners. It is further recommended that the City Council provide any direction to staff
related to the City formally encouraging the creation of a regional air support program.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Costa Mesa has had helicopters since 1970. In 1996, Costa Mesa and
Newport Beach merged their individual helicopter programs into one and formed ABLE.
The first year of operation, each City saved $500,000. ABLE's success is derived from
cost sharing and vigilantly evaluating the operation for additional savings. ABLE serves
the City of Santa Ana by way of contract and each Member Agency receives $180,000
in revenue to offset their expenditures. The ABLE commander is a shared position that
is funded from the maintenance and operating budget.
Annually ABLE flies 1500 hours and handles 3000 calls for service. - They are
instrumental in reducing the workload for ground officers on perimeters, area searches,
natural disasters, as well as reducing liability during pursuits and other dynamic events.
ABLE works with the Fire Departments through the use of infrared technology, downlink
of incidents and firefighting of vegetation fires. ABLE is a force multiplier that has
enhanced our law enforcement operations for many years.
ANALYSIS:
The City has a budget shortfall of approximately $1,400,000 for FY 2010-2011. On
several occasions, members of the City Council have communicated that the continued
use of fund balance is not fiscally appropriate and that reductions are necessary to
balance the budget. The City Council Budget Working Group and City staff has been
Page 1 of 3
ATTACHMENT 1
discussing and debating options to close the gap. Over the past several years when
budgets have been tight, both Newport Beach and Costa Mesa City Councils have
supported reductions in service levels to the ABLE Program. For FY 2010-2011, the
service hours were decreased from 3,000 to 1,500 flight hours per year. With the
continuing budget shortfalls, Newport Beach City Manager Dave Kiff and Costa Mesa City
Manager Allan Roeder have informally discussed the option of dissolution of the Program
and felt that it is an appropriate time for the City Councils of both communities to formally
consider this matter.
The Budget Working Group of Mayor Monahan and Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer has
reviewed this option and are recommending to the full City Council the dissolution of the
ABLE Program. Attachment A of this report is a memo from the Police Department that
details the ABLE Program and the process and issues that would be involved in its
potential dissolution. The memo includes information about issues related to the current
contracts, impacts to all partners including the Orange County Sheriff's Department, the
hanger lease with Signature Flight Support at the John Wayne Airport, cost
considerations, personnel issues and timelines.
Impact on City Personnel
The potential impact on Costa Mesa personnel would be based on the four (4) Costa
Mesa positions assigned to ABLE This staffing is comprised of one (1) Police Helicopter
Sergeant and three (3) Police Helicopter Pilots.
In the event that Layoff Procedures are implemented due to the dissolution of ABLE, all
employees will be eligible to exercise their bumping rights. This will ultimately result in
other less senior/tenured sworn Police Officers being laid off. The Layoff Procedures
(CMPA MOU, Article 18, A.R. 2.26, and PR&R 14.5) state that employees with the least
City seniority will be laid off first. As of the writing of this report, staff was still determining
the specific bumping rights as to the impacts to full and part-time employees. In addition,
the City is proceeding to meet and confer with the Costa Mesa Police Association,
FISCAL REVIEW:
The financial impact of eliminating or reducing ABLE services will depend on specific
direction provided by City Council in conjunction with the ABLE Board. However, as
stated in the attached memo from the Police Department, ABLE does have a total fund
balance of $3,113,300 in the Equipment Replacement Fund and $998,965 in the
General Fund. Should ABLE be dissolved a portion of these assets, as well as the
proceeds from the sale of equipment, will be returned to the City.
The current projected impact of the ABLE program to the City's General Fund for FY 11-
12 is:
Salaries and Benefits $754,380 (1 Sergeant, 3 Pilots)
Maintenance and Operations $490,255 (same as FY 10-11)
Revenue from contract cities and
reimbursement of Sergeant salary ($392,545)
Net cost - $852,090
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ATTACHMENT I
LEGAL REVIEW:
Preliminary legal review has been completed by the Attorney for the ABLE Board and no
significant legal issues were identified. The City Attorney's Office has also reviewed the
various agreements. The only step that needs to be completed prior to actually dissolving
the program is the meet and confer process with the affected employee bargaining unit
under the Meyer-Milias-Brown Act. Notice of intent to terminate the various contracts must
be given by March 1, 2011 if the program is to be dissolved at the end of the fiscal year.
Upon completion of the meet and confer process and satisfaction of the required legal
notices, the dissolution can be effected, subject to the terms of the existing Joint Powers
Authority Agreement.
CONCLUSION:
The City Council Budget Working Group is recommending that the City Council dissolve
the Airborne Law Enforcement (ABLE) Program and direct staff to proceed to take the
necessary administrative steps to complete this action including notifying respective ABLE
partners. Some members of the City Council have expressed interest in the City
participating in the review of the potential for a larger regional air support program in
Orange County and staff is looking for direction from the City Council about this issue.
THOMAS R. a TCH
Assistant City Manager
ATTACHMENTS: 1 Memo from Police Department
2 ABLE Program Background
3 ABLE Statistics
Page 3 of 3
Attachment 1
ATTACAITIERT
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ald AirSorne Law Enforcement Services
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February 3, 2011
To: Allan Roeder, Costa Mesa City Manager
From: Tim Stam; ABLE Commander
Subject: Dissolution of Airborne Law Enforcement Services" -
Summary
The dissolution of ABLE will require terminating the Joint Powers Agreement between Costa
Mesa and Newport Beach, selling of the aircraft, parts, vehicles and tools, reassigning the pilots
to their respecting agencies and assisting the mechanics in locating new employment. All non-
qualified Grant Equipment would get reallocated to other agencies. Contracts between ABLE,
Orange County Sheriffs Department and Santa Ana Police Department will need to be
terminated. ABLE's hangar lease expires on April 1, 2012 and does not have a provision for
early termination. This will require an expenditure of $119,700. Costa Mesa's personnel costs
will increase through lost revenue from a shared commander position.
Current Contracts
Joint Powers Agreement (JPA)
The Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Costa Mesa and the City of Newport Beach,
collectively referred as "Member Agencies" dated January 1, 2001, has a provision to dissolve
the ABLE Program. Section 6.02, "The withdrawal of any Member Agency, either voluntary or
involuntary shall, unless otherwise provided for by the Board, be conditioned as follows. (a)
Involuntary withdrawal shall mean those circumstances where a Member Agency must
withdrawal due to fiscal or budgetary impacts which discontinue the funding of crews or
aircraft; (b) In the case of involuntary withdrawal, written notice shall be given one hundred
twenty (120) days prior to the end of a fiscal year except that such notice may be shortened by
unanimous approval of the Board; (c) Neither voluntary or involuntary withdrawal shall relieve
the withdrawing Member Agency of its proportionate share of any debts or other liabilities
incurred by ABLE prior to the effective date of the Member Agency's withdrawal, nor any
liabilities imposed upon or incurred by the Member Agency pursuant to this Agreement prior to
the effective date of the Member Agency's withdrawal; "
Attachment 1 - Page 1 of 5
ATTACHMENT 1
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Section 7.01 "ABLE shall continue to exist and exercise the powers herein until this Agreement
is terminated by action of the Member Agencies; provided, However, that no termination shall be
complete and final until ABLE has satisfactorily disposed of all financial obligations and claims,
distributed all assets, and performed all other functions deemed necessary by the Board to
conclude the affairs ofABLE."
Section 7.02 "Termination shall occur upon the written consent of all Member Agencies, upon
the withdrawal from ABLE of a sufficient number of the Member Agencies to leave fewer than
two (2) Member Agencies remaining in ABLE and full satisfaction of all outstanding financial
obligations of ABLE. However, no such termination shall occur until all other contractual
obligations ofABLE have been satisfied."
Section 7.03 "In the event of the termination of this Agreement, any fiends remaining following
the discharge of all obligations shall be disposed of by returning to each current Member
Agency of ABLE immediately prior to the termination of this Agreement, a share of such funds
proportionate to the contribution made to ABLE by said Member Agency, to the extent
determined by the Board in its sole discretion to be fair and equitable."
Section 7.04 "Notwithstanding other provisions in the Agreement, the Member Agencies Costa
Mesa and Newport Beach agree to abide by the following procedure for selling of equipment and
aircraft in the event the Agreement is terminated. The equipment and aircraft shall be given a
fair market value by an appraiser mutually agreed upon by Costa Mesa and Newport Beach.
Before the equipment and aircraft are sold on the open market, Costa Mesa and Newport Beach
each shall have the right to purchase the equipment and aircraft at a price and under terms as
mutually agreed upon by Costa Mesa and Newport Beach which may include a financing
arrangement for the purchaser and a leasing arrangement for the non purchasing Member*
Agency to allow for a transition period after the termination of this Agreement. If an agreement
cannot be reached concerning a purchase of the equipment, then it shall be sold on the open
market. Proceeds from the sale of equipment and aircraft upon termination of the Agreement
shall be equally distributed (50/50) to Costa Mesa and Newport Beach."
Santa Ana Police Department Contract FY 10/11
The current contract with the Santa Ana Police Department has a provision for a one (1) year
extension if mutually agreed by both parties. Section 7.03 of the contract states, "Each of the
Parties to this Agreement may terminate this Agreement without cause upon one hundred twenty
(120) days prior written notice". Therefore, they would need to be notified by March 1, 2011 to
avoid the potential of an implied consent for a contract extension.
Orange County Sheriffs Department Contract FY 10/11
Either party may terminate the contract at any time, without cause, upon a 90 -day prior written
notice. The cancellation of this contract would require the OCSD to relocate or create a monthly
agreement to continue the same 50% cost sharing formula until ABLE fulfilled the JPA
procedures of dissolution. Due to an unfavorable long term lease agreement, the rent is nearly
double of the current rate, thereby reducing the incentive for the OCSD to remain.
Attachment 1 - Page 2 of 5
ATTACHMENT 1
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All of the helicopter mechanics are employed by the .Newport Beach Police Department. The
termination of ABLE would require the OCSD to hire their own mechanics 'and purchase
specialized tools at a significant cost.
Hangar Lease
ABLE currently holds a lease agreement with Signature Flight Support for a hangar located at
the John Wayne Airport. The lease agreement was reviewed by ABLE's legal counsel who
advised it did not include a condition for an early termination. Therefore, ABLE is financially
responsible for the lease through April 1, 2012. Due to the unfavorable rate increases in the 23
year lease agreement, the rent is significantly higher than the comps. 'At the present time,
Signature Flight Support has not been contacted with regard to an early termination request.
Cost Considerations
Due to the hangar lease agreement, ABLE will be financially responsible for the hangar until
April 1, 2012 at a monthly cost of $13,300 per month. If ABLE closes by June 30, 2011, nine
months remain on the lease totaling $119,700. ABLE's three helicopters are EC120B's and have
high component times as compared to the worldwide fleet. In the current economic conditions
the aircraft would be sold at a significantly reduced rate. Price estimates range between
$300,000 and $500,000 each. Per section 7.04 of the JPA, the equipment and aircraft shall be
given a fair market value by an appraiser mutually agreed upon by Costa Mesa and Newport
Beach.
ABLE has $3,113,300 in a Replacement' Fund and $998,965 in their General Fund, which
includes $255,084 of inventory and prepaid legal expenses (09/10 Auditor's Report). These
funds would need to remain intact until all of the assets have been sold and financial obligations
have met.
The commander's salary and benefits are currently paid by both Member Agencies through the
Maintenance & Operations line item at a 50% cost sharing formula. At the termination of
ABLE, Costa Mesa would lose revenue from the shared position, increasing personnel cost.
ABLE Personnel
All of the pilots assigned to ABLE could return to their respective agencies for reassignment.
However, the three mechanics who are employed by the Newport Beach Police Department do
not have the same ability. Their job classification is only applicable to aviation and their future
is uncertain. If Newport Beach could not reassign thein to a new position, Costa Mesa and
Newport Beach should assist therm to locate new employment.
Timeline
At the present time, March 1, 2011 is the date that the Santa Ana Police Department must be
notified to comply with the contract, unless both parties agree to an early termination. The JPA
is also March 1, 2011 unless the ABLE Board of Governors unanimously approves an early
termination. The hangar lease cannot terminate early. A member of the ABLE staff and one
mechanic should be retained until all of the assets have been liquidated.
Attachment 1 - Page 3 of 5
ATTACHMENT 1
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Alternatives
ABLE is working with the Santa Ana Police Department to seek funding for a replacement
aircraft through a UASI Grant. Preliminary meetings have been favorable for the request. This
could temporarily eliminate ABLE's Replacement Fund by joumaling the funds to ABLE's
Undesignated Fund. This Fund could be used to offset the expenditures for both Member
Agencies. Costa Mesa currently has 3 pilots and 1 commander assigned to ABLE. It would be
possible to reduce the assigned personnel by one pilot without affecting service to the
communities. It is suggested the Fund Balance not fall below $2,300,000, which is the total cost
a fully equipped helicopter.
The options below contain reduced personnel levels with the same level of service.
Option #1 Reduction of One Pilot
M & O
Personnel
SAPID Revenue
Salary Reimbursement from New ort Beach
Net
$490,255
$578,969
$180,000
$ 212,545$676,679
Use of ABLE's Fund Balance to offset expenditures.
Option 2 a Sustainable for 6 -Years
Budget Total
ABLE Fund Balance
Contribution
CM Contribution
$676,679
$137,351
$539,328
Option 2 (b) Sustainable for 3 -Years
Budget Total
ABLE Fund Balance
Contribution
CM Contribution
$676,679
$274,703
$401,976
Option 2 (c) Sustainable for 2 -Years
Budget Total
ABLE Fund Balance
Contribution CM Contribution I
$676,679
$369,407 $307,272
Option 3
Create an Orange County Regional Air Support program similar to the one established in the
early 90's with one significant change, all contributing agencies create a new Joiuit Powers
Agreement or amend ABLE's to add the new agencies. The addition of agencies has the ability
to increase County wide coverage with the reduction of expenditures through cost sharing.
Option 4
The ABLE Board of Governors can approve a return of revenue from ABLE's Replacement
Fund to each Member Agency. The revenue could be used to offset Costa Mesa's current budget
deficit. It's recommended the amount returned not exceed $1,700,000. This amount would be
Attachment 1 - Page 4 of 5
ATTACHMENT 1
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shared by both Member Agencies. This would leave the Replacement Fund balance at a level
sufficient to purchase a helicopter when appropriate.
Airborne Law Enforcement Study
This is a summery of a research paper by Rick May of Norwich University and Dr. Penny Shtull
"Police Helicopters and Their Invaluable Contribution to Law Enforcement". (See attachment A
for the full report.)
Helicopters were first used in a law enforcement roll, in the mid 1960's. Since then there have
been nearly a dozen different studies conducted addressing the cost effectiveness, the ability to
impact and reduce crime and the force multiplication of helicopters in law enforcement. These
studies have been conducted in municipalities across the United States, Canada and Great:
Britain, In Lakewood, California a study showed that major crimes were reduced by 8% while
major crimes rose 9% in neighboring cities during the same time period. Additionally the crime
rate per 100,000 decreased 11% while it rose 8% elsewhere. In Kansas City crime dropped -
13.5% in the first six months after the police helicopter began patrols. NASA conducted a study
in Los Angeles that showed the likelihood of arrest rose to 40% when apprehending a fleeing
felon as compared to only 18% when a helicopter was not used. Studies in Baltimore and
Miami -Dade showed that; the capture rate of suspects during high speed pursuits were 83% and
91% respectively. There are many more studies and statistics cited that show that cities that use
police helicopters for routine patrol are safer, have a lower crime rates and are able to effectively
cover more area with fewer ground officers than cities that do not utilize police helicopters.
Attachment 1 - Page 5 of 5
Aft -E -EM M ENT 1
POLICE HELICOPTERS AND THEIR INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Police Helicopters and Their Invaluable Contribution to Law Enforcement
Rick May
Norwich University
Master of Justice Administration
GJ: 510 Foundations in Criminal Justice Administration and Criminology
Dr. Penny Shtull
November 3, 2004
Police Helicopters and Their Invaluable Contribution to Law Enforcement
Introduction
Police helicopters have been in use since the mid-1960s. Their use at first was
questioned because the cost of helicopter operations is quite expensive for a
police department. However, the usefulness that the helicopter provides a police
department will be illustrated throughout this paper. Some of its current uses
include: (1) surveillance; (2) emergency response; (3) backup to patrol units; (4)
high speed pursuits (5) show of force; (6) special weapons and tactics (SWAT)
team insertions; (7) search and rescue (SAR); and (8) terrorist response. The
possibilities of the helicopter in use today and in the future are limitless.
The purpose of this paper is to highlight some of the studies conducted on the
effectiveness of police helicopters and their contributions. Helicopters, because
of their initial cost and maintenance, are not cheap to operate. They are more
expensive to operate than an airplane, especially turbine powered helicopters.
However, their contributions to society are invaluable. Several examples of the
helicopter's effectiveness in the US and abroad will be discussed. Particular
recognition will be given to a study conducted in Calgary, Canada with
comparison to a neighboring city, Edmonton. This study will expose results that
indicate the helicopter has not only been an effective tool for law enforcement but
it also has the potential to deter crime.
Lastly, newer technology will be discussed in helicopter advancements and also
equipment used by police helicopters. One of the main criticisms about helicopter
operations, from the community that it serves, is its noise nuisance. Newer
technological advancements will be discussed in ways to lessen the noise
nuisance of police helicopters. However, the noise is a byproduct of the police
helicopter and this paper suggests that the helicopter is in fact an effective crime
fighting tool in today's criminal justice system.
Attachment 2 - Page 1 of 13
ATTACHMENT 1
Historical Overview
Lakewood, California 1966
The first recorded study on the effectiveness of police helicopters and particularly
their usefulness on deterring crime was done in 1966 in Lakewood, CA
(Whitehead , 2001, p. 8). Lakewood, at the time, was a city of 87,000 people and
the study compared crime rates in Los Angeles, a city that had 7 million people
(2001 p. 8). Lakewood used helicopters to assist ground police on patrol and at
the time; Los Angles did not. Results from this study "indicate[d] that the
frequency of certain crimes decreased in the City of Lakewood, while they
increased in Los Angeles, County, in the year of the helicopter patrols compared
to the previous year" Whitehead (2001, p. 9). During the time of the helicopter
patrols, 1965-1966, the following results were recorded:
- Actual Major Crimes decreased by 8% in Lakewood compared to +9% in
LA
- Crime Rate/100,000 pop. decreased by 11 % in Lakewood compared to
+8% in LA
- Robberies decreased by 6% in Lakewood compared to +22% in LA
- Burglaries decreased by 7% in Lakewood compared to +9% in LA (2001
P. 9)•
Kansas City, Missouri 1969
Another study of deterrence was conducted in Kansas City, MO in 1969. This
time the study wasn't compared to a nearby city. Also, unlike the Lakewood
study, the Kansas City study observed only three months of helicopter patrols
during a twelve month period as opposed to a twelve month helicopter patrol
studied in Lakewood. The following results were found:
- Crime decreased 13.7% in June compared the previous five months
Crime decreased 7.4% in July compared the previous six months
In August, the patrol area changed but indicated:
- Crime decreased 3% compared to the previous seven months
In September, the patrol areas was again revised but indicated:
- Crime decreased 7.6% compared to the previous six months
(Whitehead, 2001, p. 10)
The study also concluded that the number of crimes in the patrol areas
decreased 13.5% as compared with those crimes which occurred in the first six
months (2001 p. 10).
Attachment 2 - Page 2 of 13
ATTACHMENT 1
Los Angeles, California 1969
In Los Angeles in 1969 a study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of
helicopter patrols. The study was conducted in two of Los Angeles' 17 divisions;
a low crime division and a high crime division (Whitehead , 2001, p. 10).
Unfortunately, there was not a time given as to how long the study was
conducted, but the following table indicates that the helicopter was effective in
both divisions during its patrol. Number of Calendar Quarters in which Actual
Occurrences were Significantly Above or Below;
Prediction
Division
Robbery
Burglary
Theft
Auto Theft
Low Crime
-2
0
0
-1
High Crime
-2
0
-4
-3
Note. From "The Eye in the Sky: Evaluation of Police Helicopter Patrols," by P.C. Whitehead, 2001, TR -01-2001R, p. 11.
Copyright 2001 by Canadian Police Research Centre. Adapted with permission.
This table illustrates that the police helicopter used in Los Angeles did have
effect on crime reduction. It also shows, however, the most crime reduction came
from the high crime area.
Long Beach, California 1970
After examining the effects of the helicopter study conducted in Lakewood, CA,
Long Beach decided to purchase a full-time helicopter. The crimes that the
helicopter patrols were intended to deter were robbery, burglary and auto theft.
The results of the helicopter patrol were as follows: total crime decrease by 3.2%;
robbery -7.3%; burglary -0.1 %; and auto theft -6.6%. The total number of crimes
that fell into the category of crimes that wasn't expected to be deterred by the
helicopter patrol actually increased by 8.6% (Whitehead , 2001, p. 13). It could
Police Helicopters and Use 5 be assumed that with crime rising in general, the
helicopter patrol actually deterred the types of crime anticipated.
Los Angeles, California 1972
Another study was conducted in Los Angeles by the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA) in 1972. The conclusions that NASA revealed
were, "...the likelihood of police arrests rose to 40% when a police helicopter was
assisting in the apprehension of a fleeing felon, as opposed to an 18% arrest rate
... where police helicopters were not being used" (Mart, 2000, p. 8).
Attachment 2 - Page 3 of 13
ATTACHMENT 1
Columbus, Ohio 1972
In Columbus, Ohio in 1972, three helicopters were used for a test that lasted six
months. The tests were to be conducted in Columbus' 15 precincts. Eight of the
precincts were to have the helicopters on an `on call" basis (Whitehead , 2001, p.
14). The rest of the precincts are assumed to have constant patrol. The results,
as given by the city of Columbus, were very good; however, the Canadian police
research center (CPRC) results were a little more conservative based on their
statistical analysis. Although both reports did show a deterrent effect created by
the helicopter patrol. The results from CPRC were as follows: robberies
decreased more in the comparison area (22.2%) than in the area that received
helicopter patrols (8.6%); however, burglaries decreased more in the
experimental area (17.2%) than in the comparison area (9.9%) and auto theft
decreased (9.4%) in the experimental area while it was increasing (28.8%) in the
comparison area (Whitehead , 2001, p. 15). The helicopter patrol did not show
deterrence in robberies, however, it did show a significant deterrence in
burglaries and especially in auto thefts.
Nashville, Tennessee 1978
In Nashville, TN in 1978 another study was conducted to examine what type of
impact the helicopter patrol had on residential burglaries. The city was divided
into 33 police zones and the Police Helicopters and Use 6 patrol chief decided on
what zones were to be patrolled by air based on the number of burglaries per
zone. The study was conducted in phases; there would be a 12 day patrol
followed by an 18 day reset to baseline and then 12 more days of patrol followed
by 18 more days to reset to baseline. The results of the patrols were: the
baseline periods averaged 1.28 burglaries per day and the experimental periods
0.33 per day (Whitehead , 2001, p. 15).
Also worth noting, the average number of burglaries in the target zones was 2.8
per day and during the baseline periods averaged 1.28. This would appear to be
a 54% decrease (Whitehead , 2001, p. 15).
Nashville, Tennessee 1980
Two years following the first study in Nashville, a second one was conducted.
This time the target areas would be divided into high density areas and low
density areas. The period of helicopter patrols in the high density areas were 9
and 10 days; the low density areas were 14 and
21 days. The report results were, "...the average number of burglaries per day
decreased in the areas of high density, compared to the baseline and returned to
baseline days, but that they, in fact, increased in the areas of low density... the
deterrent value of helicopter patrols exists in high density areas, but not in low
density areas" (Whitehead , 2001, p. 16). It would appear that once again in
Attachment 2 -"Page 4 of 13
ATTACHMENT 1
Nashville, the helicopter patrols were effective in deterring crimes in the higher
crime areas assuming that the high density areas were the higher crime areas.
England 1988
A study conducted by the Wiltshire Constabulary in England examined the aerial
patrol on a cost effective scale as opposed to a crime deterrent scale. This study
included fixed -wing (airplanes), rotor -wing (helicopters) and foot patrol officers.
The study was to determine if aviation assets were cost effective. The following
table illustrates the findings:
Search Party Time to Search 1 Sq. Mile Cost to Search 1 Sq. Mile
Bolkow 105 (helicopter) 12 minutes $105
Optica (fixed wing) 18 minutes $27
Islander (fixed wing) 22 minutes $77
Persons on Foot 454 hours $6946
Note. The cost is in British Pounds, today's conversion rate is 1 GBP = 1.83
USD.
Note. From 'The Eye In the Sky: Evaluation of Police Helicopter Patrols," by P.C, Whitehead, 2001, TR -01-2001 R, p. 17.
Copyright 2001 by Canadian Police Research Centre. Adapted with permission.
This study indicates that helicopters are, in fact, an efficiently effective tool used
for law enforcement. The largest efficiency is on saving manpower and time.
Time can be very critical following a crime in the apprehension of a criminal. It
could also be very critical in the search of a victim or in the role of a search and
rescue mission. One of the greatest benefits that this study reveals is that the
helicopter can be used to search an area with only two police officers onboard
and thus relieve other officers to conduct their daily duties (Whitehead, 2001,
p.17).
Effectiveness of Police Helicopters in Canada
In 1999 a study was completed at the University of Toronto. The emphasis of this
study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of the police helicopter as a tool in
deterring crime and helping police with their clearance rates (Marz, 2000, p. 2).
The study was conducted in Calgary, Canada and used Edmonton, Canada as a
comparison city. Both cities are approximately the same size but Calgary used a
police helicopter to help with its patrols and Edmonton did not.
Before discussing the effectiveness of the police helicopter in Calgary, it is
important to list a couple of fact findings. In 1968, "Operation Sky Night" was
adapted to assist the New York City Police Department with night patrolling using
a helicopter. A finding from the study conducted on "Operation Sky Night" found
that crime decreased by 11 % at night where the police helicopter was patrolling
and also revealed that crime actually went up by 8% in areas where the police
helicopter was not used (Marz, 2000, p. 7).
Attachment 2 - Page 5 of 13
ATTACHMENT 1
Another study was conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) in Los Angeles, CA and found that, "districts where police
helicopters had patrolled regularly the incidents of robberies, automotive thefts
and other types of thefts had decreased dramatically" (Marz, 2000, p. 8). It also
concluded that when the police helicopter was used to assist ground officers, the
apprehension rate went up to 40% as opposed to 18% (Marz, 2000, p. 8).
The objectives of the police helicopter are twofold, one is to assist the police
officers on the ground when a crime has already occurred and the other is to
deter crime from ever happening. In Calgary, Canada, the city purchased a
McDonnell Douglas 520N NOTAR turbine powered helicopter to assist the police
and apply the aforementioned objectives. A brief statement about the helicopter
is that it comes equipped with forward looking infrared (FLIR), a Nightsun very
powerful search light and the helicopter itself is built without a tail rotor which
makes it much quieter. The advantages of a no -tail rotor (NOTAR) helicopter will
be discussed later.
The typical response time of the helicopter was two minutes to be on scene
assisting the ground officers. This was meeting the first the objective, the second
objective was being met when it was noticed that some burglaries and break-ins
were being conducted when ever the helicopter had to land for refuel. It would
appear that the helicopter was in fact acting as a deterrent. The problem is the
helicopter acting alone; left the city "vulnerable" when it landed for refuel. This
could be solved by providing another helicopter and having it airborne when the
other is refueling (Marz, 2000, p. 11). Having two helicopters not only provides a
helicopter airborne when one is refueling but it also provides a greater chance of
having a helicopter when the other is grounded for maintenance. Helicopters,
unlike airplanes, need more maintenance because of their complex design.
There are many more moving parts on a helicopter compared to an airplane and
overtime, these parts must be replaced or inspected. Also, helicopters are
subjected to greater "dangerous" working environments such as unimproved
fields for take -offs and landings or exposed to "bird strikes," the unintentional act
of hitting a bird in flight, more often than their fixed -wing (airplane) counterparts.
Law enforcement units in the U.S. have reported that when response time is
decreased from four to two minutes for crimes where a high probability of flight
from the crime scene is most likely, then the probability of apprehension is
increased by 100% (Marz, 2000, p. 12). In Calgary, the response time was about
three.minutes. During this same time, 1995 to 1996, the response time in
Edmonton by ground vehicles was under fourteen minutes (Marz, 2000, p. 12).
This is a large gap considering the lead that the suspect would have on the
officers. Not only would the physical presence of the helicopter being on the
crime scene prove beneficial but also having it there faster would allow the
airborne officers to assess the situation and then call for back-up if needed or
conserve the ground officers for the next call that is waiting.
Attachment 2 - Page 6 of 13
ATTACHMENT 1
Results from Canada
Having now discussed the importance of the police helicopter, the following
results highlight the effectiveness of the police helicopter in Calgary, Canada.
The results were gathered from Canada's Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) and
compare Calgary (which has a police helicopter) to Edmonton which does not
have a police helicopter (Marz, 2000, p. 22). The period used for comparison was
from 1990 to 1994 (before Calgary bought the helicopter) and 1995 to 1997 (after
Calgary bought the helicopter). The comparison is made by measuring the crime
rates before and after the helicopter purchase. Comparison of Calgary to
Edmonton Based on UCR Reports The trends in break and enter offenses
decreased by 15% for Calgary and there was no change for Edmonton.
However, the clearance rate was 4% higher in Calgary compared to Edmonton
(Marz, 2000, p. 22).
The trends in motor vehicle theft were quite significant in Calgary compared to
Edmonton. The trend of vehicle theft in Calgary decreased by 80% compared to
an increase of 17% in Edmonton. There was no significance in clearance rates
between both cities following the use of the helicopter; they both increased their
clearance rates by about 50% (Marz, 2000, p. 23). The trend in robbery statistics
for Calgary were decreased by 27% while Edmonton increased by 5%. The
clearance rates for Calgary increased by 16% compared to Edmonton which only
increased by 12%. What is also noteworthy is that while Calgary's robbery rates
decreased by 27% when they added the helicopter, Canada's robbery rate as a
whole only decreased by I% during this same time (Marz, 2000, p. 24).
Comparison of Calgary to Edmonton Based on Crimes per 100,000 Population
Scale.
The number of break and enter rates for Calgary decreased by 5% and
increased by 31% for Edmonton. Although not a significant difference between
the two cities, the clearance rate for Calgary went up 30% and 27% for
Edmonton (Marz, 2000, p. 25).
The trend in motor vehicle theft rate decreased by 67% in Calgary and increased
by 25% in Edmonton. However, the clearance rate for Calgary was only
increased by 33% and 49% for Edmonton. It should be noted though that during
this period Calgary's motor vehicle theft rate was 40% below national average
(Marz, 2000, p. 26).
The trend for robbery rates decreased by 20% for Calgary and increased 9% for
Edmonton. The clearance rate for Calgary was 20% higher and only 8% for
Edmonton (Marz, 2000, p. 27).
Attachment 2 - Page 7 of 13
ATTACHMENT 1
The trend in municipal police departments in Calgary was only an increase in
personnel by 1 % and in Edmonton it increased by 18%. The population per
police officer during this period was decreased by 4% for Calgary and an
increase by 13% for Edmonton. What should be noted is that "Calgary has
always had a significant higher population per police officer that Edmonton, even
though Edmonton had a greater increase in its police personnel from 1996"
(Marz, 2000, p. 31).
Based on UCR reports from Canada, the number break and entry rates between
Calgary and Edmonton was a 12% difference. The difference in the number of
motor vehicle thefts was 63% and the difference in robberies was 22%. With
these significant differences between the two cities it can be assumed that the
police helicopter made the difference.
Calgary maintained a significantly less number of police personnel compared to
Edmonton, however, Calgary's crime rates had dropped significantly compared
to Edmonton. Also, the clearance rates were higher for Calgary than that of
Edmonton during the study. It can then be suggested that the police helicopter's
use provided an apparent contribution to the police force in Calgary. It should
also be considered hard to believe that these results could have happened
without it being for the police helicopter.
Police Helicopters Making Pursuits Safer
When police officers get into high speed pursuits, this can provide for an
extremely dangerous situation for the general public, the officers involved and the
suspect. Many police departments have restrictions on high speed pursuits. For
example, Baltimore has a discouragement policy for vehicle pursuits and Miami -
Dade County has a policy to only chase violent felons (Alpert, 1998, p. 1). When
police officers do not want to let fleeing suspects escape because of policies
restricting them from pursuing suspects in their police vehicles, they can choose
to call in a police helicopter to assist with the pursuit.
Normally, when a suspect starts to flee at a high speed, the police officer will
slow down and turn off all emergency equipment; this leaves a strong probability
of loosing the suspect. If a helicopter unit is available, the officer will call for its
assistance and stay in radio contact with the helicopter. While the helicopter is
following the suspect, sometimes unbeknown to the suspect, the police officer in
the ground vehicle is waiting for the opportunity to resume the chase and or
make an arrest when the suspect stops. This is the case in Miami -Dade County
and Baltimore, the two cities in which Alpert conducted his studies.
Most of the time, the helicopters will fall back and pursue the suspect passively,
unless the suspect is driving erratically, running through intersections or
endangering people. In any of these cases, the pilot or airborne observer may
take one of the following actions: (1) communicate.to the ground units that the
Attachment 2 - Page 8 of 13
ATTACHMENT 1
subject is accelerating, fleeing activity; (2) make the suspect aware of the
helicopter's presence in hope that the suspect will cease fleeing; and (3) use the
searchlight to illuminate the suspect's position during night pursuits (Alpert, 1998,
p• 2)•
The helicopters are not permitted to shine the spotlight into the fleeing suspect's
eyes but instead use the spotlight to illuminate the suspect's vehicle and make it
easier for other police on the ground to see the vehicle. Also, the spotlight serves
to alert the general public of the danger and also illuminates the vehicle should
its lights be turned off during the pursuit, avoiding detection. Not only do the
helicopters of the two cities have very powerful spotlights but also radios, FUR
and cameras (Alpert, 1998, p. 2). With the use of all this equipment, the
helicopter serves as an invaluable tool for officers in a pursuit.
The study by Alpert concluded that out 89 pursuits in Baltimore, there were 74
arrests made; that is an 83% success rate. The study also confirms that in
Miami -Dade County, out of 43 pursuits conducted by a helicopter, there were 39
arrests made; that is a.91% success rate. The most common pursuit that a police
helicopter was engaged in was that of a stolen vehicle and the second most
common was that of a robbery (Alpert, 1998, p. 2). The following table indicates
the effectiveness of the pursuit helicopter.
Pursuits Involving Helicopters
Site Year Number Arrested % Success
Baltimore 1995-1996 89 74 83
Miami -Dade 1996 43 39 91
Note. From "Helicopters in Pursuit Operations," by G.P. Alpert, 1998, Research in Action, NCJ 171695, p. 2. Adapted with
permission.
There were many pursuits that didn't involve ground crews until the suspect had
already left the fleeing vehicle (Alpert, 1998, p. 3), this would also allow the
helicopter to provide its assistance even more by keeping an "airborne eye" on
the suspect until the ground crews could make an arrest. As Alpert states, "...the
data indicate that when a helicopter became involved in a pursuit, the most likely
outcome was an arrest" (Alpert, 1998, p. 3).
During this study, a sample was taken of seven pursuits. Five of the pursuits
resulted from stolen autos and six resulted in "bail -outs" (procedure that suspect
use; they leave the vehicle and continue evasion on foot). The ground patrol
units were able, in most cases, to turn off all emergency equipment and follow at
a safe distance. The helicopter was able to continue following the suspects and
report important information back to the ground officers like whether or not the
suspect had a weapon. The information, as well as the continued surveillance
that the helicopter crew was able to provide, was very helpful for public safety
and led to the quick arrest of the suspects (Alpert, 1998, p. 3).
Attachment 2 - Page 9 of 13
ATTACHMENT 1
Probably one of the greatest technological advantages of the police helicopter is
the helicopter itself. The aircraft provides one or two sets of eyes to see from an
angle what ground police officers cannot. They can see around corners, see
further down roads where suspects may be traveling, have greater fields of view,
and see over obstacles that ground officers are limited by. The newer helicopters
today have greater speeds and better "all weather" technology than older
helicopters. Newer technology is allowing helicopters to fly faster and safer by
advances in rotor blades and rotor systems. Along with technological advances
in the helicopter itself, newer avionics (aviation electronics) are allowing
helicopters to navigate safer in day and night time scenarios. Also,
advancements like global positioning systems (GPS) are allowing helicopters to
get on the scene where needed faster. This type of system would allow officers
on the ground to call for assistance, give a street address, and the helicopter
crews could pinpoint where the officer is and be overhead in a shorter amount of
time.
Another advancement in helicopter technology is the no -tail rotor (NOTAR)
system. All helicopters, with the exception of helicopters with more than one main
rotor system, must have a tail rotor. The tail rotor allows controlled flight by
providing anti -torque which opposes the main rotor system. The tail rotor system,
although needed, provides most of the noise produced by helicopters and noise
complaints are frequent with police agencies. Greater community support could
be gained for police aviation units if the noise that they produced was decreased.
The NOTAR system which is only on McDonnell Douglas -Helicopters like the
MD520N discussed earlier in Calgary, Canada is much quieter than those on
conventional helicopters. NOTAR helicopters do not use a tail rotor; instead they
use a pressurized tail boom to provide anti -torque for the helicopter. Because the
helicopter doesn't have a tail rotor, it is much quieter than conventional
helicopters thus being friendlier to the community and more -of a surprise to
suspects. The NOTAR helicopters are the quietest helicopters on the market
today (Eurocopter, 2004, p. 1).
Along with advancements in helicopter technology, advancements in avionics
have also been useful for ground officers. Equipment such as forward looking
infrared (FLIR) can spot people based on their body heat. This could be very
useful for suspects that retreat to woodland areas in order to evade capture or
also assist ground units in searching for children who are lost or had been
abducted. This could also provide use in searching for Alzheimer patients that
may be wandering around in rural areas.,
Other advances in technology include the night vision goggles (NVG). These
devices use ambient light and amplify it over 10,000 times which allow aviators to
see in the dark. This has made flying at low levels at night safer for helicopter
crews and has also aided pilots/tactical flight officers (TFO) in searching for
suspects in low lit areas. Although not a perfect system to make day out of night
Attachment 2 - Page 10 of 13
ATTACHMENT 1
in terms of vision it does, however, give the helicopter crews a greater advantage
at night time.
Lastly, one great advantage that the helicopter has provided officers on the
ground is the powerful "Night Sun" spotlights. This spotlight can serve by
identifying a suspect hiding in the dark or illuminate an area for the ground
officer's protection. It can also be used in pursuits to follow fleeing autos and
provide an alert for civilian motorists about oncoming danger (Alpert, 1998, p. 2).
Conclusions
In accordance with Whitehead ( 2001, p. 95), "The operational benefits of the
helicopter policing stem directly from the unique dimensions that it provides:
aerial perspective, speed, mobility and ability to light and area. It facilitates many
types of searches, saves time, adds to citizen and officer safety. and increases
apprehensions." Also according to Whitehead (2001, p. 92), it is claimed that
there was a concern about noise complaints coming from the community in which
the helicopter operated.in and suggested that the helicopters operate at an
altitude of 1000 feet or higher. This altitude could be too high to be effective and
would be suggested that police departments turn to newer technology and
purchase quieter helicopters like those equipped with NOTAR. This would allow
the police the fly lower on the scenes for which they have been called to and
should also allow them to fly in weather that has lower cloud ceilings. By having
lower clouds, the police may not be able to fly at higher altitudes but with
helicopters that are less noisy, pilots should be able to fly lower and not be of a
nuisance to the community.
The results that came from Marz's (2000) study illustrated the fact that the police
helicopter did indeed lower the crime rate in Calgary as compared to Edmonton
and found the following:
Therefore based on this data, it can be stated that while Calgary was
operating with fewerpolice personnel, Calgary still managed to surpass
both Edmonton's actual number of offence reductions and Edmonton's
increase in clearance rates where the three crimes were concerned.
Hence, in view of this information, Calgary's pre -post reform differences
(when compared to Edmonton) need to be regarded as more statistically
significant because the police helicopter treatment effect must have been
the cause why Calgary managed to produce such high pre -post
differences in all the categories of crime. (p.32)
The results that were found in Marz's study cannot be discounted because her
study based on two cities in Canada approximately the same size and in the
same province had quite a significant difference in crime after the implementation
of a police helicopter in Calgary.
Attachment 2 - Page 11 of 13
ATTACHMENT 1
The police helicopter has proven itself to be a remarkable tool in not only making
dangerous pursuits safer but also contributing to an incredible apprehension rate.
Police helicopters can provide a platform to observe, track and illuminate people
or places on the ground (Alpert, 1998, p. 3). The police helicopter can be
provided as an excellent backup for ground forces and also provide another
prospective of the scene that the grounds officers can't get (Alpert, 1998, p. 3).
Police helicopters have made pursuits much safer in allowing ground units to
slow down, turn off their emergency equipment and relieve some of the anxiety of
the fleeing suspect which could in turn lead to a safer pursuit. However, as easy
as the helicopter can be used to follow a fleeing suspect it can also be used as a
"show of authority and a show of force" (Alpert, 1998, p. 3) which has the
potential of reducing the drama in a tense situation. This would be a very useful
tool in breaking up a riot that could become violent and uncontrollable in a short
amount of time.
Police helicopters are not always credited with their usefulness, however, their
usefulness has been very important to police departments. Helicopter operations
can cost a police department millions of dollars which operate on a budget that is
very tight; however, according to Lt. Scott Dunklee of Prince George County in
Maryland, "Prince George's two helicopters responded to more than 4,000 calls
in 2001 and were the first to arrive on the scene 80% of the time, with an average
response time of 2 min[utes]" (Croft, 2002, p. 11). Croft also states, "Dunklee, the
unit's commander, said teams were credited with more than 200 criminal arrests,
the seizure of more that $5 million in drugs and finding 54 stolen vehicles "(2001,
p.11).
In Huntington Beach, CA, the HBPD found that, ."its helicopters were `first on the
scene' 97 percent of the time in 2000,... participated in 152 felony arrests, 406
misdemeanor arrests and 440 traffic citations" (Richfield, 2001, p. 45). Not only
were the helicopters the first on the scene in most of the calls and assisting
ground units but also, "...credited with breaking up 689 'potential crimes' while
making possible the cancellation of 575 ground unit call -outs ... [and] responded
to 3,789 radio call in total last year... [and] on scene 808 times when no police
cars were available... [and] usually within 60 seconds of the call" Richfield (2001,
p. 45). It would be very difficult to rationalize the importance of the helicopter's
contribution when comparing it to its accomplishments in Prince George County
and Huntington Beach.
The helicopter has been verified effective in Calgary, Canada and has
demonstrated its use in making policing safer in Baltimore and Miami -Dade. It
has also illustrated its variety of techniques in which it can fight crime or be a
very invaluable tool for police officers to use. Its only limitations in the future are
that of the imaginations of the aviators who fly them.
Attachment 2 - Page 12 of 13
ATTACHMENT 1
References
Alpert, G. P. (1998). Helicopters in Pursuit Operations (NCJ 171695).
Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved October 13, 2004,
from National Institute of Justice Web Site: http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles/171695
Croft, J. (2002, September 2). Aerial Policing: Training, Gadgetry and Gut
Instinct. Aviation Week and Space Technology, 157, 10-11.
Eurocopter. (2004). Actions for Fly Neighborly Proposals.
Retrieved November 11, 2004, from MD Helicopters Web Site:
http://www.mdhelicopters.com/rotorcraft/Models/EC%20%20HA1%20FN%20W%
20Mar%2004%202004.png
Marz, R.M. (2000). Time -Series Analysis 1990-1997 The Impact of Police
Helicopters on Criminal Behaviourand on Clearance Rates. Unpublished thesis,
University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Richfield, P. (2001, January). Flying Behind the Orange Curtain. Business &
Commercial Aviation, 88,44-45.
Whitehead , P. C. (2001 January 22). The Eye in the Sky. Evaluation of the
Police Helicopter
Patrols (TR -01-2001 R). Retrieved October 15, 2004 from
http://www.alea.org/members/restricted/studies/london.pdf
Attachment 2 - Page 13 of 13
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ATTACHMENT 2
HUNTINGTON BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT
AIR SUPPORT CONTRACT SERVICES
A PROPOSAL TO:
Santa Ana Police Department
Costa Mesa Police Department
Newport Beach Police Department
April 6, 2011
FAIN VAT61:11YAIOki IMAJ
Hunting
PURPOSE
On March 9, 2011 staff members from the Santa Ana Police
Department, Newport Beach Police Department and Costa Mesa
Police Department met with staff members of the Huntington Beach
Police Department to explore contract air support services. The
meeting was held at the Huntington Beach Police Heliport. The
meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Carlos Rojas (SAPD),
Commander Jeff Owens (SAPD), Captain Dale Johnson (NBPD),
Lieutenant Bill Hartford (NBPD), Captain Les Gogerty (CMPD),
Captain Dave Bunetta (HBPD) and me, Lieutenant John Domingo
(HBPD). Huntington Beach Police Chief Kenneth Small addressed
the staff members prior to the meeting.
During the meeting, Santa Ana PD expressed a desire to have air
support contract services in place at the conclusion of their current
contract with the Airborne Law Enforcement Joint Powers Authority
("ABLE") on June 30, 2011. Santa Ana PD was exploring contract
services with Anaheim PD (Angel), Huntington Beach PD (HB1) and
Orange County Sheriffs (Duke). Costa Mesa expressed interest in
contract services but could not commit to any exploration at the time
of the meeting. Newport Beach PD was possibly interested in
contract services if they could not resurrect their own or another
joint air support program.
On March 30, 2011 staff members from the Santa Ana Police
Department and Costa Mesa Police Department met again with staff
members of the Huntington Beach Police Department. At the
conclusion of this meeting, a request was made to provide a written
proposal for air contract services.
FACTS
The Huntington Beach Air Support Unit was established in 1968.
Huntington Beach was the first city in Orange County and fifth in the
entire nation to utilize helicopters in support of public safety. The
primary mission of the Huntington Beach Police Air Support Unit
(HBPASU) is to fly in support of police, fire and marine safety
operations. Those operations include, but are not limited to patrol
ground operations, surveillances, aerial photo/intelligence gathering
missions, observation support for police, fire and marine safety
operations, as well as SWAT operations and Emergency/Disaster
surveying.
Our primary goal is to provide a level of service that contributes to
the overall success of the mission at hand. We understand that
safety is critical to the successful outcome of any mission, so we
strive to operate in as safe a manner as possible in all areas of our
aviation operations.
RESPONSE TIMES
The Huntington Beach Police Department ASU heliport facility is located in uncontrolled airspace (non -
airport), allowing us to become airborne without the delays normally associated with airport operations.
During an emergency response, the aircraft can be airborne within 1 minute 30 seconds of initial start-
up/ignition.
Response times from the farthest southwest part of Huntington Beach are as follows:
Huntington Beach (PCH/Anaheim Harbor Bridge) to Santa Ana (55 FWY/22F": 6 minutes 52 seconds
Huntington Beach (PCH/Anaheim Harbor Bridge) to Costa Mesa (Airport Loop Drive/405 FWY): 5
minutes 49 seconds
Huntington Beach (PCH/Anaheim Harbor Bridge) to Newport Beach (PCH/Reef Pt Drive, Newport Coast):
8 minutes 31 seconds
HELIPORT
The HBPD Heliport is owned by the City of Huntington Beach, therefore there is no rental or lease agreement
allowing our program to be cost efficient. The heliport facility is rated by the FAA as a Repair Station
(Limited) which allows for a wider range of maintenance by our mechanics. As mentioned above, The
Huntington Beach Police Department ASU heliport facility is located in uncontrolled airspace (non -airport),
allowing us to become airborne without the delays normally associated with airport operations allowing for a
quicker response time. We have two (2) full-time mechanics assigned to the heliport.
ATTACHMENT 2
ASSETS OF HUNTINGTON BEACH POLICE AIR SUPPORT UNIT
The Huntington Beach Police Air Support Unit consists of three (3) MD520N, NOTAR (No Tail Rotor)
turbine engine helicopters. The single -turbine MD 520N® is a quiet performer with unique safety
benefits. It was the first commercial application of the NOTAR system for anti- torque and directional
control without a tail rotor, setting a 15 -year mark for safety and performance unmatched in its class.
The proven five -place workhorse has been the standard of excellence for law enforcement agencies
since it was introduced. Now more powerful than ever, the MD 520N features the improved 450 -
shaft -horse -power Rolls-Royce 250-C20R for increased performance.
Huntington Beach Air Support Helicopters (HB1) are equipped to assist with modern police work from
an aerial platform.
Additional support equipment currently attached and used by HB1 includes:
• F.L.I.R. (Forward Looking Infrared Cameras System)
• Day time color camera
• Night sun spotlight (50,000,000 candle power)
• ATV radio downlink for EOC operations
• Avalex moving map system/GPS
• Technisonic VHF/UHF radio (allows for multi state/federal law enforcement agency
communications)
• Tyler Seats for SWAT operators
• Fraser -Volpe gyro -stabilized binoculars
• Lo Jack (Stolen Vehicle Recovery Systems)
• Aerial digital photography equipment (for multiple uses including CSI/Traffic collision
investigations)
• Handheld/Aircrew delivered life rings (automatic inflation upon contact with water)
*ADDITIONAL AVAILABLE EXTERNAL LOAD CAPABILITIES
• Bambi bucket fire suppression apparatus (photo)
• Long Line lifting capabilities (for use in rescue operations/
emergency supply delivery during natural disasters)
• Horse collar rescue harness (swift water river/ocean rescues)
• Life Net (aquatic rescues/multiple simultaneous victim recover)
* Above items are all currently available and located at the hanger facility;
however, equipment inspections and pilot training will be required prior to
their use.
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MD520 NOTAR NOISE COMPLAINTS / COMPARISONS
All of our pilots are sensitive to noise complaints and work to reduce complaints by the commun
we serve. We typically fly at 700 ft during the day and 800 - 1000 ft at night to avoid complaints
while assisting ground units.
Helicopter noise complaints are traditionally handled by Air Support Unit Sergeant. However,
the advent of email and the public's increasing ability to contact city officials directly, noise
complaints are now addressed in a number of different ways. Emails, telephone calls, written
correspondence are all used to help bring some degree of resolution to the situation.
Many times citizens who were initially upset by the noise are surprised to learn the helicopter was
supporting some type of police or fire activity. The interaction that takes place more often than
not results in a better understanding of what the helicopter's purpose is and under what
circumstances it is used. Many positive contacts result from what was initially a noise complaint. I
Compared to the Eurocopter EC120, at an elevation of 800 ft, the noise signature is as follows:
• NOTAR 65.0 db
• EC120 78.7 db
ATTACHMENT 2
HOURS OF AVAILABILITY / FLIGHT SCHEDULE
The Unit is staffed by a Police Sergeant, 6 Police Officer/Pilots, and 2 Helicopter Maintenance
Mechanics.
HB1 currently is scheduled to fly 2,000 hours/year for normal patrol functions. The HBPD Air
Support Unit provides 7 -day a -week coverage with two (2) 2 -officer flight crews. The Cover shift
consists of a Sergeant in flight training with a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI). An extra pilot, not
regularly scheduled is also available to fill in for flight operations. As of July 2011 the tentative
schedule will appear as follows:
Three of the six Huntington Beach Pilots live in town and can be available to respond from home in
emergency situations.
SPECIAL EVENTS
SWAT
The advantage of having three (3) fully operational helicopters allows The Air Support Unit to be
available for special events and holidays. HB1 can be available in addition to regular patrol times to
provide support during but not limited to the following holidays and events:
o Easter Sunday
o Memorial Day Weekend
o Fourth of July
o Orange County Fair (July - August)
o Labor Day Weekend
o Any major event that could benefit from the use of air support
The HBPD Air Support Unit is a valuable asset and often
used to support SWAT Operations. The ASU is available
to train with the SWAT team to maintain proficiency and
promote teamwork.
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Cover
1300-
1300-
1300-
0900-
Off
Off
Off
2300
2300
2300
1900
Nights
Off
Off
Off
1730-
1730-
1730-
1730-
0330
0330
0330
0330
Training
Off
0900-
0900-
0900-
0900-
Off
Off
1900
1900
1900
1900
Three of the six Huntington Beach Pilots live in town and can be available to respond from home in
emergency situations.
SPECIAL EVENTS
SWAT
The advantage of having three (3) fully operational helicopters allows The Air Support Unit to be
available for special events and holidays. HB1 can be available in addition to regular patrol times to
provide support during but not limited to the following holidays and events:
o Easter Sunday
o Memorial Day Weekend
o Fourth of July
o Orange County Fair (July - August)
o Labor Day Weekend
o Any major event that could benefit from the use of air support
The HBPD Air Support Unit is a valuable asset and often
used to support SWAT Operations. The ASU is available
to train with the SWAT team to maintain proficiency and
promote teamwork.
�1
J..
AIR SUPPORT BENEFITS
A HMENT 2
/ S
y --ft.X---07M
• The availability of a police helicopter offers an advantage that enhances the capabilities of officers, fire
fighters and marine safety personnel on the ground.
• When a police helicopter is used during a vehicle or foot pursuit, public safety is greatly enhanced.
• The ability to observe and report on uninvolved vehicle/pedestrian traffic, road conditions, and suspect
actions brings a greater degree of safety to the event.
• The capabilities of the police helicopter make it an invaluable tool during major emergencies and natural
disasters.
A study conducted for the Los Angeles Police Department by JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
determined the following:
• One police helicopter provides a level of service equivalent to eight (8) 2 -officer patrol cars.
• The presence of the police helicopter operating on routine patrol was found to be an active
deterrent to crime.
• During a major incident or tactical operation, the presence of a police helicopter with a well-
trained Pilot and Tactical Flight Officer act as a force multiplier for the overall police operation.
PROPOSED HOURLY RATE
The proposed contract rate for air support services by the Huntington Beach Police Department Air Support Unit
includes the Direct Operating Cost (DOC) of the helicopter. The DOC can be provided upon request.
The recommended proposal for hourly service of the Huntington Beach Police Air Support Unit is: $700 / hour
CONCLUSION
The Huntington Beach Police Department Air Support Unit prides itself on professionalism. We are
fully capable and prepared to extend air support services to your cities. We look forward to the I
opportunity to discuss this further.
Additional information is available on our web site at:
http://www.ci.huntington-beach.ca.us/government/departments/PD/divisions/uniformlAerounit.cfm
ATTACHMENT 3
Costa Mesa Police Department
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
To: Tom Hatch, CEO
From: Steve Staveley, Chief of Police
Date: May 19, 2011
Subject: ABLE
I note that from the last council meeting a member of the council has requested some
additional time before ABLE disbanding to address the potential of selling ABLE assets to
a private company. Additionally, there are other options including Newport Beach buying
all the assets and Costa Mesa buying resources (patrol and response time) from them on an
as needed basis. The third potential option, of which I am currently aware, is to continue
on with ABLE but using much less expensive non sworn and part time pilots while using
"Mission Commanders" as the right seat observer.
Attached please find an excerpt from the ABLE board meeting of May 19, 2011. This
excerpt from the minutes outlines action of the Board to ask the Costa Mesa City Council
and then seek the support of the Newport Beach City Council to do the following:
1) Continue on with ABLE operations until Oct. 1, 2011 to allow time for the options
above to be developed and subsequent recommendations from the ABLE Board to
each council.
2) Costa Mesa is well on in the budget development process and following council's
previous direction we have not budgeted for ABLE's continuation during this
period. Nor for that matter has Newport Beach. Thus the ABLE Board has
authorized the complete costs for both cities for ABLE operations including
staffing to be deducted from ABLE reserves to allow the extension of
operations. During this extension period the various options can be explored and
presented to the Costa Mesa City Council and then to the Newport Beach City
Council. At that point the Council can take the action it desires. This second item
makes the extension a no cost time to this or FY 11/12 budgets to continue on for
the short period of time necessary to explore the options presented.
a) The $212,000 currently in the proposed FY 11/12 preliminary
budget would remain unmolested and unused during the extension
period. These funds are budgeted for the purpose of acquiring
helicopter patrol and response time after ABLE is dissolved.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Rescind prior action to withdraw from ABLE as of June 30, 2011 and take new action to
withdraw from ABLE October 1, 2011 to allow time for additional study of above options
and possibly other options.
To: Tom Hatch, CEO
From: Steve Staveley, Chief of Police
Excerpt from May 19, 2011 ABLE Meetinjj
1. Helicopter Options
Summery:
ATTACHMENT 3
Attachment
May 19, 2011
There are a few options that ABLE staff has explored to keep the aircraft in
operation. These include; outsource flight time to another agency, NBPD
purchase the assets and operate their own program, or privatize the operation
with a prerequisite the operator purchase all of the assets.
Motion: Chief Staveley made a motion that the A.B.L.E. Board propose to
the Costa Mesa City Council that they extend the A.B.L.E. program to
continue on to October 1, 2011 so that additional research can be done and
this additional expense would come out of the reserve fund. Captain Tom
Gazsi seconded the motion.
Public comments — None
Motion carried by the following vote: All in favor. Motion Approved.
2