New $13.5-M police chopper approved by council By: Joyanne Pursaga Posted: 5:24 PM CST Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025

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This article was published 30/01/2025 (269 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A $13.5-million deal to “lease to own” a new police helicopter received final approval on Thursday, even as its hefty price tag was questioned.

Councillors Jason Schreyer (Elmwood-East Kildonan) and Brian Mayes (St. Vital) expressed concern about the lease price, since it’s far higher than the $3.5 million spent on Winnipeg Police Service’s first helicopter in 2010.

“I would like to support this but… the price in 2010 was $3.5 million with a lot of provincial assistance,” said Mayes, noting the province paid the operating costs at the time. “It’s inarguably (now) $900,000 a year for 15 years… Why is it four times more expensive?”

The councillor further questioned why council wouldn’t buy the helicopter instead or at least consider whether doing so would save money.

“I actually am not opposed to the idea of a police helicopter… (but) I’m opposed to a report that says (it’s almost) $14 million,” said Mayes.

Coun. Markus Chambers, chairman of the Winnipeg Police Board, stressed a new helicopter is needed and the lease will allow for future changes.

“If new technology is on the horizon… (WPS) can opt out of their (lease) agreement. This is a good deal for the police service, it’s a good deal for the citizens of Winnipeg, who are wanting to see us invest in safety in our communities,” said Chambers (St. Norbert—Seine River).

WPS credits its existing helicopter for safely ending high-speed chases, finding missing people and helping locate potentially dangerous suspects. The service says the helicopter can cross the city in minutes, allowing “eyes” on active events from up to 15 kilometres away.

In 2023, the “Air 1” vehicle was dispatched to 1,941 emergency calls. Of those, 1,459 were deemed high-risk, including 100 vehicle chases. The helicopter is also credited with locating 401 people that year, including 200 involved in a criminal event.

Chambers briefly raised his own pricing questions with reporters, noting he had spotted a sale price of US$3.3 million for the Airbus H125 helicopter model police selected.

However, WPS said the helicopter’s base price is about $4 million and it would cost $4 million more to outfit it as a fully functioning police vehicle.

“The lease-to-own (agreement) is based on the $8-million cost… plus financing costs over 15 years. The contract will allow for the city (to) end the lease at specified points, which could mean purchasing it outright or terminating the lease to purchase with penalties,” a WPS spokesperson wrote, in an email.

WPS said the exact points at which the lease could be terminated are still being determined.

Chambers said that response addressed his questions.

Council cast a final 14-2 vote in favour of the lease on Thursday, with Mayes and Schreyer opposed.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said he agrees the helicopter is needed.

“The police helicopter is a vital tool in the delivery of public safety in our police service and many other police services… I would (like) us, ultimately, to see if we can go to the utilization of drones in the future… (But) I don’t think we’re there yet,” said Gillingham.

In a written statement, the mayor’s office said the lease option allows greater flexibility.

“(It) allows the city to opt out if alternative technology, like drones, becomes a viable replacement within the next few years. The agreement also includes options to trigger a purchase, if needed,” wrote spokesman Colin Fast. “WPS compared the lease-to-own model with traditional purchase through financing and found lease-to-own was the lower-cost option.”

Fast said he could not provide the exact cost difference.

His statement also noted “significant inflation in the aerospace industry” has taken place since the original WPS helicopter was purchased in 2010.

The Manitoba government initially covered the WPS helicopter operating costs but later provided the city with general public safety funding instead.

The helicopter cost about $2 million to operate in 2023, WPS previously told the Free Press.

The service says its current helicopter is ready to retire, with replacement parts taking six months to a year to order. That raises the risk it could wind up grounded for an extended time awaiting repairs, a city report notes.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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