Chicago police plan to add 2 helicopters to small, aging aircraft fleet
CHICAGO (CBS) – The Chicago Police Department's fleet of helicopters is deployed for carjackings, robberies, shootings, and other violent crimes.
CPD plans to add two more helicopters to the force, still far behind the number other major cities have, and with restrictions on when officers are allowed to chase a fleeing car, Chicago's new police superintendent and city lawmakers said the city needs more.
CBS 2's Charlie De Mar dug into the issue hovering over the city budget.
During a budget meeting that took up most of the day, the use of helicopters was a major focus of the conversation. Helicopters are looked to as a major resource and tool to assist officers on the ground, but Supt. Larry Snelling said the city simply doesn't have enough.
Chicago's three helicopters are often hovering high above crime scenes or chasing carjacking suspects, at least when they're not down for maintenance, which is often, according to Snelling.
"When we do have our helicopters working, we do have them up, and they have been very effective," Snelling said. "Moving forward, that's why we have been pushing to try to build upon our air fleet."
The city has budgeted for two more helicopters, which would bump the aging fleet to five, but they won't fly for at least another year.
Compare that to other large cities. The Houston Police Department flies 13 aircraft. Phoenix has 10 and the largest fleet in Los Angeles has 17 helicopters, according to LAPD's website.
Police in Chula Vista, California, respond to crimes in real time with drones to assist officers on the ground. Drones are launched from several points around the city, typically for non-violent offenses.
"It's impossible to understand how all these other cities have made these investments in and aircraft fleet and are doing much better at confronting the carjacking problem than we are," said Ald. Brendan Riley (42nd).
Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th), added, "We need to invest in air support to give CPD tools to make the community safer."
"It's not a matter of safety for the people who experience those helicopters firsthand," said Matyos Kidane, of the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition.
Leaders with the grassroots group said police helicopters don't make people safer.
"This is a constant source of monitoring, surveillance and disruption for Black and indigenous communities here in LA," Kidane said.
The city plans to buy the two helicopters for almost $12 million, which includes training for both pilots.