CPD's New Eye In The Sky

By Rachelle Bowden in News on Jan 12, 2006 11:04PM

Of the country's biggest 10 cities, Chicago has been the only one who hasn't had even a single police helicopter. And we haven't for decades. Ironic since Chicago once boasted about creating one of the nation's first helicopter units. In the 1980's the program was terminated to cut costs. But times, they are a changin'.

Chicago put a police helicopter into service this week and hopes to purchase another one with a federal homeland security grant by the end of the year. The police will be using the helicopter to fight crime and for homeland security. They'll respond to calls for help with pursuits, both foot & vehicle, missing persons, and assist at large public gatherings. They'll be equipped with groovy technology like thermal imaging cameras, a map navigation system, and a video downlink that will let police at HQ have an ariel view from their desks.

All Chicagoist can think of when we hear about police helicopters is 1) car chases and 2) those hopeless scenes from Cops when the suspect is trying to run away on foot, half naked, but the police helicopter is chasing them down with the gigantic light from the sky. Maybe we get a local reality show, now that we got the helicopter, and just following the thing around to see if anything exciting happens.

Images via CPD