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Chopper on offer to cops
Chief says a helicopter would be useful but isn't a top priority for his force
By ROB GRANATSTEIN, CITY HALL BUREAU
http://torontosun.com/News/TorontoAndGTA/2005/11/17/1310698-sun.html
Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair says a helicopter would be a useful addition to the force, but getting ready for takeoff is not the first priority.
At the Toronto Police Services Board meeting today, Blair and the board will hear a presentation from a charitable organization that wants to supply the force with a helicopter at no cost to taxpayers.
EFFECTIVE TOOL
Blair said a helicopter can be a very effective tool for police when hunting for criminals and missing people, among other uses.
"I believe it would have some value for policing in Toronto," Blair said yesterday, noting he hasn't examined the business case to be presented today.
While Blair is looking forward to hearing the presentation, he added he believes the best use of police is not in the air.
"I think the best value comes from putting police officers on the street, in neighbourhoods, interacting with the public and communities, enforcing the law and delivering services police officers can deliver," Blair said.
Blair said there are also issues about accepting private-sector contributions, and that would have to be examined.
Board vice-chairman Pam McConnell said she isn't convinced Toronto police need to be airborne.
"My view of priorities is not whirlybirds up in the air, it's about feet on the street and boots in the neighbourhoods," she said.
She and Blair both said the arrangement Toronto has with Durham and York police services gives the city adequate access to their helicopters, when necessary.
While the York and Durham choppers aren't available every time Toronto needs one, the relationship has worked well so far.
WORKED IN ALBERTA
Trevor Harness, president of Regional Air Support and Rescue (RASAR), said the charitable chopper program has worked in Calgary and Edmonton and he can't understand why something that maximizes resources, helps increase officer safety and costs nothing would be a problem.
"The helicopter is a proven crime deterrent," he said.
Harness, a former cop, believes RASAR can raise $10 million a year to pay for start-up costs, operation and maintenance of the chopper.
Former Chief Julian Fantino was a huge advocate of a police helicopter and had a number of mini-choppers in his office. Those models are gone now that Blair is in the chief's office.
No decision is expected today.
I think that either Bill Blair is scared of those hippy protester members of the Police Services Board or just isn't a good enough police officer to see the value of a piece of kit like that and the tremendous benefit that it would be to the TPS as a tool of law enforcement.
Pam McConnel, as we all know, is quite the 'expert' (in her own mind at least) when it comes to what she thinks the police should be doing.
Someone aught to ask her what year she graduated from OPC!
L.A. has roughly 12 in the air at any one time and another 28 that they can call on if required. I wonder if the Los Angeles police dept would think that police helicopters aren't required kit for policing?
In Canada York, Durham, Calgary, Edmonton, the RCMP, OPP, Surete Du Quebec, Winnipeg all use choppers. There may be more communities that the ones on this list that do as well that I don't know about.
Toronto is the 5th larest city in North America. Why don't we have police helicopters?
Slim