Police Helicopters: Same old b.s. all over again

[Mao Tse Tongue]

The cops want their toys again, insisting they help crime, but the truth is that all studies in the States show they have no deterrant value on crime, but the cost in terms of disturbing public peace of mind is enormous.

The whole idea of them makes me sick. Better policing has nothing to do with 'copters, and I like the sky to myself at 3am, thank you very much.

Bullshit!

 

[red]

sorry- i can't hear your post over the sound of the police helicopter

 

[Keebler Elf]

Every dollar that gets sunk into a helicopter is a dollar taken away from hiring another cop to walk the beat and actually interact with the populace. And don't for a second believe that there won't be a financial cost to a chopper...

 

[goodtime]

York & LA choppers

...
Better policing has nothing to do with 'copters, and I like the sky to myself at 3am, thank you very much.

Bullshit!

Exactly, the York & LA county choppers are so damn F*** annoying.

Like a war zone with them flying overhead. The only use for them are for searching missing person with the Heat seeking cameras, better for more uniforms doing beats in trouble neighborhoods.

 

[Kurt]

Studies

What studies are you referring too?

As far as I knew they had many benefits to the community in regards to reducing high speed chases and getting to areas quickly.

I heard this whole debate recently on the radio and everyone has an oppinion but I can't find any studies (atleast on the internet). I am not for or against but after listening to the debate it seems logical to have one.

Kurt

 

[Jade4u]

I am sure if there were a flood we would be glad that there were choppers to come and rescue us or a fire and people stranded on top of a building. Plus there are many crimes where people are in areas that cars cannot get access and being on foot would be just too slow. I am sure there are also situations that are too dangerous for police and cars to get into that the best and safest means would be to use a chopper.

I also think if it is to make thier jobs easier than why not let them have it. I look at it this way it is much more efficient cooking with a stove than cooking over a fire place, sure in the good old days there was often more people in a family to help dice and slice, but now one person can cook a whole meal faster than before thanks to an oven with 4 burners on top. More variety in less the time and less people true. But in the end it was a very benificial change.

 

[Hockey_MLnut]

The cops want their toys again, insisting they help crime, but the truth is that all studies in the States show they have no deterrant value on crime, but the cost in terms of disturbing public peace of mind is enormous.

The whole idea of them makes me sick. Better policing has nothing to do with 'copters, and I like the sky to myself at 3am, thank you very much.

Bullshit!

They do help in catching people that they are chasing like a car chase. A Chopper can go everywhere and see everything that a police car or a police officer on the ground can not see. The Choppers will help in saving lives during a police chase because than the police cars will not have to go as fast risking more peoples lives on the street. Durham and York both have Choppers and it helps them with these issues so why not the biggest police force in the Country.

 

[thirdtime]

Durham choppers

The Durham choppers flying at night with heat sensitive cameras have discovered (and subsequently closed down) dozens of 'grow' houses.

 

[A-ROD]

Exactly, the York & LA county choppers are so damn F*** annoying.
Like a war zone with them flying overhead. The only use for them are for searching missing person with the Heat seeking cameras, better for more uniforms doing beats in trouble neighborhoods.

And if it was your loved one that they found with the heat seeking cameras, would you still complain

The York Region helicopter was instrumental in tracking down a wanted murderer last year near where I work. It made me feel more secure.

In this day and age when the criminals are better armed than LE, I am glad that helicopters are available. It gives them a wepon that the criminals don't / can't have.

 

[rama putri]

The cops want their toys again, insisting they help crime, but the truth is that all studies in the States show they have no deterrant value on crime, but the cost in terms of disturbing public peace of mind is enormous.

It's not about it being a deterent. It's about catching criminals.

 

[AA_date]

in york region there was a big gathering or fight at one of those power centre movie theaters, as i was driving. the police copter came used the big spot light and immediately the violence stopped and people scattered

 

[rama putri]

... the cop doesn't want to cause an accident with a fleeing scared criminal doing 100 mph.

Except for this 'scared criminal' BS part, I agree. Let's stop making excuses for criminals. If a criminal can overcome their fear of commiting a crime, they can overcome their fear of STOPPING when being arrested.

 

[glaeken]

If a criminal can overcome their fear of commiting a crime, they can overcome their fear of STOPPING when being arrested.

They don't have a fear of stopping, they have a fear of being arrested so stopping is the last thing they're going to do.

You expect criminals to be rational and weigh the consequences of their actions? If they weighed the consequences of their actions THEY WOULDN'T BE CRIMINALS!

 

[Back Burner]

What's with all this scaring criminals stuff? If it can be shown that a helicopter will help find and apprehend criminals more efficiently and more effectively then I'm all for it.

 

[rama putri]

You expect criminals to be rational and weigh the consequences of their actions? If they weighed the consequences of their actions THEY WOULDN'T BE CRIMINALS!

Ummm...hello? Being rational and performing a criminal act are not mutually exclusive. They are being rational when commting a criminal act. That's my point. They have overcome the fear.

 

[tboy]

Let's just take a look at reality:

Global, CBC, and some radio stations have helicopters to report on, traffic? So we have "entertainment" agencies flying around bothering us so why shouldn't the police have the same ability?

Sure during the recent tests they used the helicopter to find a stranded boater out on the lake where they also could have used a marine unit with radar, but if the surface was too rough (as it gets on Lake Ont. sometimes) the radar would have been useless.

I don't mind the noise, though I have fallen asleep at a rock concert heheh

 

[glaeken]

Ummm...hello? Being rational and performing a criminal act are not mutually exclusive. They are being rational when commting a criminal act. That's my point. They have overcome the fear.

Criminal or not, just because someone has overcome their fear does not make them rational. Also, being afraid does not make you irrational.

But if we use your logic don't you think a criminal fleeing the police would be afraid of going to jail and act irrationally? Like say, not stopping. Hence, car chases and, to return to the topic, the reason we could use helicopters.

 

[jeanius]

I don't mind wtf gov't do for them as long as I have my health care

 

[A-ROD]

What's with all this scaring criminals stuff? If it can be shown that a helicopter will help find and apprehend criminals more efficiently and more effectively then I'm all for it.

Very well put... I obviously agree

 

[rama putri]

Criminal or not, just because someone has overcome their fear does not make them rational. Also, being afraid does not make you irrational.

Yes. So what? This has nothing to do with what I said.

But if we use your logic don't you think a criminal fleeing the police would be afraid of going to jail and act irrationally? Like say, not stopping. Hence, car chases and, to return to the topic, the reason we could use helicopters.

Criminals think they CAN ESCAPE - hence, my point. That may not be an irrational thought. Like I said, performing a criminal act is not necessarily irrational.

Criminals are not 'afraid' of going to jail. I'm pretty sure they don't want to - which is different than being afraid. Get the difference?