MPI touted as copter sponsor

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/04/2010 (5678 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba Public Insurance would make an ideal sponsor for Winnipeg’s police helicopter because the aircraft can detect drunk drivers, enforce street-racing legislation and all but eliminate police-car crashes, according to an internal police report.

The city’s first police helicopter could help cut down MPI’s costs by monitoring traffic "from a surreptitious point of view," according to June 2009 police report obtained by the Free Press under freedom-of-information legislation.

The city will spend $3.5 million this year to purchase a police helicopter, while the province has agreed to cover the $1.3-million annual operating cost.

The city has invited corporations to sponsor the aircraft but has yet to sign any deals. It has not made any formal proposal to Manitoba Public Insurance about the helicopter, MPI spokesman Brian Smiley said.

But a 37-page report prepared for senior police executives describes the Crown corporation as the ideal partner for the vehicle. The report cites the apprehension of impaired drivers and observation of street racers as potential police helicopter functions, in addition to the vehicle serving as an eye in the sky to marshal patrol cars more effectively, as police Chief Keith McCaskill has repeatedly stated.

The helicopter will also be used to manage car and foot chases, search for lost children and Alzheimer’s patients, manage crowds, escort VIPs and serve as a visual deterrent against crime, states the report, which also includes a comparative analysis that concludes a helicopter is far more useful than a fixed-wing aircraft when it comes to policing.

The document is significant because the Free Press and other media have been asking the city to release reports that justify the purchase of the police helicopter since late November, when Premier Greg Selinger and Mayor Sam Katz announced their intention to create a helicopter unit to assist the Winnipeg Police Service.

Documents requested by the Free Press in December were completely severed — that is, blacked out — upon their release in January, as the police service wanted politicians to review the information first. But the police subsequently released new versions of the same documents with only moderate edits. One section of the report that remains partly severed is a discussion about pilot training. The police service expects to encounter "some extreme problems in terms of reliability and continuity of training" that apparently stem from the fact helicopter pilots are "very transient in nature" and are "driven by opportunity and financial reward." The report also predicts citizens will be concerned about the noise created by the helicopter during its first few months in operation. To mitigate against this concern, the police have selected the quietest helicopter that’s useful for policing — the Eurocopter EC 120B Colibri — and plan to establish a telephone line and email address that will allow residents to directly reach the flight unit. The police also plan to offer "select members of the community and local leaders" rides on the helicopter so they can spread positive word of mouth. "On-board equipment such as the rear-view monitor and internal radio communications allow for a very involved experience for the persons riding along," the report states. The rear-view monitor is "great for training and strategic ride-alongs."

Members of the media will also be invited on board. "Perception of a police helicopter is generally very positive. By inviting the media and creating a transparent process, they would be encouraged to research and develop stories based on the mass of information available," the report states.

The police also plan to engage in a public education campaign "to address issues such as privacy rights and noise concerns, while highlighting the level of safety and response times an aerial support unit can achieve."

The police must also develop a means to address "nighttime light contamination" from a 30-million candlepower light "that can illuminate half a square block or the area the size of a bicycle."

bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca