Wheels down for Springs police choppers
Posted : Dec 22, 2009 9:03 PM
Updated: Dec 22, 2009 9:09 PM
It's wheels down forever for the Colorado Springs police helicopters. They held a ceremony today to decommission the two choppers. City council axed the air unit from next year's city budget.
""This isn't a day to mourn," said Police Chief Richard Myer at the police hangar near the Springs airport. "It's a day to celebrate and say thank you and congratulations."
The city estimates it costs about $900,000 a year to run the unit. Myers says losing it is a big loss for the community. "We in the police department are frustrated and sad to witness our declining ability to provide the quality of service one should expect of one of America's top 50 cities," he said.
The helicopters, given to the city in a deal with the military, helped in scoping out scenes, searching for suspects and possibly detering crime. Since 1996, the crew has responded to nearly 30-thousand calls for service and they were first on the scene at more than 10-thousand of those calls.
"We're almost always first on scene so rapid response is probably our bread and butter in law enforcement aviation," said Sgt. Dan Lofgren, who led the air unit.
The hangar, which is owned by the city, will still be used by other police units. The officers who worked on air one will move to patrol and CSPD plans to sell the helicopters in 2010. Chief Meyers hopes to resurrect the program but doesn't know how or when.
For now, the planes may fly one more time -- New Year's Eve, one of their busiest nights.
George at Dec 23rd 2009 12:02 AM
I for one am glad to see such a waste of money off the books. The CSPD should be cut by 10 percent more!
Josh at Dec 23rd 2009 12:18 PM
George,
You want to see the CSPD cut by another 10%? WTF?!? Is this because you keep getting caught doing the illegal things you do? Just remember, since you hate the police the next time you need help call a crackhead, which it sounds like you know plenty...
Cheers
George at Dec 23rd 2009 7:14 PM
Josh,
Do I smell low-ranking pork in danger of being cut from the force?
I haven't been caught doing any of the illegal things I do and I'd like to keep it that way. The only reason crime goes down when you hire more cops is, you give criminals jobs.
As you say,
Cheers
MARK at Dec 23rd 2009 12:58 AM
HEY KOAA. Wouldnt this be an opportunity to buy the helicopters for your station and maybe work out an agreement with CSPD? Cities half the size have choppers in their local media. COS and its people deserve one. Furthermore, if something serious arises CSPD could also use it in cases of serious felonies or busy nights like 4th of July, New Years, etc. Your telling me with all this stimulus money floating around, you couldn't get some help while supportiing your community and enhancing your services for your audience? I know there has to be a way like purchase the choppers with grant money or split maint. costs for partial usage! Come on KOAA, we aren't in a cowtown anymore.
Brad at Dec 23rd 2009 1:06 AM
but the city can build an overpriced building for the USOC.