Recently, I spoke at a neighborhood gathering that was organized by residents to address some issues of violent crimes occurring near them. At the end of my presentation, I asked the neighbors if there were any concerns I had not addressed or any further questions that I could answer. A man in attendance asked, “Why is your helicopter so loud, and why does it always seem like it’s over my house making noise?”
I appreciated the question. Conversations like these are important between law enforcement and the citizens of San Jose who support us. I spoke with the man about the essential uses of our helicopter, its overwhelming capture rate, and the enormous blessing it is to our city that we have a skilled and dedicated Air Support Unit.
I further spoke with the group and told them that my fellow officers and I know that doing our job does sometimes cause inconveniences for the residents we protect. We realize that our lights and sirens can be loud and annoying; we also understand that it’s a sacrifice when you need to get somewhere and we need you to yield the roadway to us for emergency purposes. We know you don’t like your route changed during our traffic diversions. I also explained that on my days off I experience the same things you do.
When I was done, the man spoke again. He said, “I understand it now. I may not like it, but I understand it. It’s the sound of safety.”
Please pardon the noise...
Proudly serving you,
Your Beat Cop
I appreciated the question. Conversations like these are important between law enforcement and the citizens of San Jose who support us. I spoke with the man about the essential uses of our helicopter, its overwhelming capture rate, and the enormous blessing it is to our city that we have a skilled and dedicated Air Support Unit.
I further spoke with the group and told them that my fellow officers and I know that doing our job does sometimes cause inconveniences for the residents we protect. We realize that our lights and sirens can be loud and annoying; we also understand that it’s a sacrifice when you need to get somewhere and we need you to yield the roadway to us for emergency purposes. We know you don’t like your route changed during our traffic diversions. I also explained that on my days off I experience the same things you do.
When I was done, the man spoke again. He said, “I understand it now. I may not like it, but I understand it. It’s the sound of safety.”
Please pardon the noise...
Proudly serving you,
Your Beat Cop
Posts
How often is the helicoptor even operating? I used to see it every once in awhile now i hardly see it. I'm amazed the guy saw or heard it at all. How much of the shift is taken up doing maintanence and safety checks on the helicopter compared with actually flying it? How much does it cost to train cops to be pilots? How much does the Air Support Unit cost every year and wouldn't that be money better spent on hiring more beat cops who are actually there -all the time- and who can actually respond to calls rather than just flying over them making noise? As a tax payer, I don't think I'm getting my money's worth out of the Air Unit or that ridiculous Horse Unit. When was the last time anyone even saw a horse except at some festival? Sound of safety? Seems more like the sound and smell of money burning.
ReplyDeleteOfficer,
ReplyDeleteThank you. Your post is wonderful. I find your patience with people who feel inconvenienced by public safety servants doing their jobs annoying myself. Must just be me but, I feel safer when I hear the helicopter, or hear/see a Police car. ;-)
Beat Cop,
ReplyDeleteYou must have the patience of a Saint. You wouldn't want to disturbe others when catching a scum bucket who just robbed and shot a clerk at 7/11. People need to grow up and use their brains. I appreciate you all for the tough job you do. Thank you, and fly by my house anytime.
Mr. Anrad:
ReplyDeleteAsking questions and being skeptical of our city finance is not a bad thing. You ask some good questions. However, may I suggest that before you label these units as “ridiculous” you check out some of the links that I provided. They might or might not change your mind about the service that they provide to the taxpayers of San Jose.
As for the actual expense…I don’t know. I just know it can’t be cheap. What price do we put on safety? What price do we put on life? I suppose this answer will be different for different people. I don’t mean to be philosophical. I’m just trying to be realistic. Take for example, the police helicopter footage from San Diego. What are the chances that the pursuing officer could have been killed by the suspect with a shot gun who ends up killing himself. I’m not saying that the officer surely would have been shot. I’m saying that the helicopter pilot decreased that chance to near zero. Without that helicopter I undoubtedly believe there would have been a different outcome.
Hope to hear from you again.
Video: SJPD Air Unit video (approx. 7 years old)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dR2_Wa-MoE
Video: SDPD Air Unit video (the use of FLIR)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAMwholkV-A
Video: Texas DPS FLIR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuV2wuftWmY
Video: Award winning video (K9 and Air Unit working together)
http://blutube.policeone.com/Clip.aspx?key=8E3B44FC21DB7F6F
Web Site: Friends of the Horse mounted unit
http://sjmu.org/index.html
I checked your link on the Horse Mounted Unit. I am more convinced than ever now that the idea is ridiculous. We don’t need “goodwill ambassadors” soaking up city resources. Even if the animals themselves and the facilities were fully funded by donations, which they are not, those officers out there are still paid for by tax dollars and would better serve our community by being in a patrol car. The cops are understaffed enough on the street now. We don’t need to waste time assigning good cops to a “petting zoo” and calling it a Horse Mounted Unit.
ReplyDeleteAs to the other footage, no one is arguing that helicopters are valuable in apprehending fleeing criminals but only if the helicopter is actually THERE! How many hours a day, a week and a year is the San Jose PD helicopter actually flying and available as a resource? My guess would be it is down for refueling and maintenance and out of service for training well over 60-70% of the time. From my experience in the military, helicopters are constantly being repaired, tuned, and tested and having their very expensive parts replaced because such things wear out faster than most people realize. It’s a miracle the things fly at all.
Also, show me footage of some bar fight where someone is getting the hell beat or stabbed out of them and let me know how the helicopter is going to break up that fight. Even if the co-pilot is parachute qualified I don’t see the helicopter being as effective as a half dozen or so extra beat cops who are actually on the ground. Of course, the criminals might scatter if the helicopter flies over and shines its light on them but then again, they might not. If they flee, would it be better to have one officer on the ground, being followed by the helicopter, to chase down and arrest the suspect or suspects, or a half dozen or more officers actually on the ground to assist in making the arrest. I wouldn’t want to be that solo officer having to chase down that suspect or suspects and trying to take them into custody by myself. But what the hell, maybe the helicopter can get some great footage of the suspects jumping me!
My guess is that the helicopter doesn’t respond to traffic accidents, domestic disputes, burglaries or robberies that are not in progress or anywhere else when a beat car is needed to investigate, gather evidence and take a report. We need beat cops, not "whirlybirds", to patrol the city. The next time I get broadsided by a drunk driver, maybe the helicopter can buzz me and wave while I try to detain the drunk myself because there aren’t enough beat cops available to respond because the city can’t afford them because too much is being spent on glamour like Air Units and horses.
What price do we put on public safety and life? Good question, but one for the politicians to answer, they allocate the resources. The City does not have unlimited resources, no matter how much they raise my property and sales taxes so we best use the resources we have in the most efficient manner. Having a dozen or so more cops on the street would contribute to the protection of life and property far more efficiently than a helicopter and a horse.
Mr Anrar,
ReplyDeleteI understand your skepticism regarding the horse mounted but they play an important role in policing. The HMU can patrol parks where patrol cars can't access. And believe it or not, they can sneak up on suspects. But I believe the most useful tactical function the horses provide are in crowd control situations. I've personally been side by side with the horses during the Rodney King riots, Cinco de Mayo riots and Mardi Gras and believe me when I say, nothing moves a crowd of drunk unruly people like a 1500 lbs. horse!!
Dear Anonymous
ReplyDeleteI checked your link on the Horse Mounted Unit. I am more convinced than ever now that the idea is ridiculous. We don’t need “goodwill ambassadors” soaking up city resources. Even if the animals themselves and the facilities were fully funded by donations, which they are not, those officers out there are still paid for by tax dollars and would better serve our community by being in a patrol car. The cops are understaffed enough on the street now. We don’t need to waste time assigning good cops to a “petting zoo” and calling it a Horse Mounted Unit.
As to the other footage, no one is arguing that helicopters are valuable in apprehending fleeing criminals but only if the helicopter is actually THERE! How many hours a day, a week and a year is the San Jose PD helicopter actually flying and available as a resource? My guess would be it is down for refueling and maintenance and out of service for training well over 60-70% of the time. From my experience in the military, helicopters are constantly being repaired, tuned, and tested and having their very expensive parts replaced because such things wear out faster than most people realize. It’s a miracle the things fly at all.
Also, show me footage of some bar fight where someone is getting the hell beat or stabbed out of them and let me know how the helicopter is going to break up that fight. Even if the co-pilot is parachute qualified I don’t see the helicopter being as effective as a half dozen or so extra beat cops who are actually on the ground. Of course, the criminals might scatter if the helicopter flies over and shines its light on them but then again, they might not. If they flee, would it be better to have one officer on the ground, being followed by the helicopter, to chase down and arrest the suspect or suspects , or a half dozen or more officers actually on the ground to assist in making the arrest. I wouldn’t want to be that solo officer having to chase down that suspect or suspects and trying to take them into custody by myself. But what the hell, maybe the helicopter can get some great footage of the suspects jumping me!
My guess is that the helicopter doesn’t respond to traffic accidents, domestic disputes, burglaries or robberies that are not in progress or anywhere else when a beat car is needed to investigate, gather evidence and take a report. We need beat cops, not “whirlybirds”, to patrol the city. The next time I get broadsided by a drunk driver, maybe the helicopter can buzz me and wave while I try to detain the drunk myself because there aren’t enough beat cops available to respond because the city can’t afford them because too much is being spent on glamour like Air Units and horses.
What price do we put on public safety and life? Good question, but one for the politicians to answer, they allocate the resources. The City does not have unlimited resources, no matter how much they raise my property and sales taxes so we best use the resources we have in the most efficient manner. Having a dozen or so more cops on the street would contribute to the protection of life and property far more efficiently than a helicopter and a horse.