NCJ Number
53589
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 45 Issue: 3 Dated: (MARCH 1978) Pages: 56-59
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE PASADENA, CALIF., POLICE DEPARTMENT'S HELICOPTER PROGRAM FOR AERIAL POLICE PATROL IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THAT ONGOING SAFETY TRAINING HAS BECOME THE HALLMARK OF HELICOPTER OPERATIONS, IS SHOWN BY THE FACT THAT IN THE PASADENA PROGRAM PILOTS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN ONLY ONE ACCIDENT AFTER NEARLY 8 YEARS OF AERIAL PATROL AND MORE THAN 20,000 FLIGHT HOURS. CONTINUOUS EMERGENCY LANDING PRACTICE AND SCHEDULED TRAINING MISSIONS MAKE THIS SAFETY RECORD POSSIBLE. AVIATION NAVIGATION IS PART OF THE REGULAR FLIGHT CURRICULUM FOR HELICOPTER PILOTS, AND INSTRUCTORS TEACH TRAINEES THE VALUE OF KNOWING FREEWAYS, STREETS, AND EVEN DISTINCTIVE BLOCKS IN ORDER TO PINPOINT INCIDENTS QUICKLY FOR ARRIVING GROUND UNITS. INHOUSE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS HAVE BEEN TRAINED AS HELICOPTER PILOTS THROUGH A CAREFUL SELECTION PROCESS. PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED SINCE AERIAL POLICE PATROL BEGAN IN 1970 ARE NOTED, AS WELL AS WAYS IN WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN RESOLVED. THE USE OF HELICOPTERS IS CITED AS ONE REASON FOR THE DECREASE IN THE CRIME RATE OF THE CITY IN 1973. PHOTOGRAPHS OF HELICOPTER OPERATIONS ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)