Edmonton - City of (Police Chase) Champions

[browna]

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/20...pare040813.html

I can feel the inferiority complex melting away.

[nfotiu]

Originally posted by browna@Aug 13 2004, 06:15 PM
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/20...pare040813.html

I can feel the inferiority complex melting away.

Growing population??? I guess they must have passed Toronto! I hate police chases. Unless they are chasing someone truly dangerous, they should be called off. I knew someone who lost their uncle as an innocent bystandard in a police chase in Calgary. If I was killed or lost someone I loved due to the police chasing someone with a stolen car, or some drugs on him, what a waste... It seems everyone else has started thinking this way, except for our friends up north!

[Cowperson]

Does Edmonton have any police helicopters? Just asking.

Also, you have to wonder how the stats are compiled. They might start a chase and end it two blocks later when it gets too dangerous, yet its still called a chase for the stats. Are these lengthy multi-mile chases? Are they on freeways or in more closed quarters on normal city streets?

Cowperson

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

I believe they rented one for a period of time. Not sure if they're using one right now, though.

[Bill Bumface]

^ Exactly what I was thinking. I can't remember if it was on here, but some monkey was talking about how another HAWCS helicopter was unnecessary and the money should be put to a "worth while use", well this is exactly where HAWCS saves lives and still gets the bad guy.

you might be able to outrun a police crusier, but you can't outrun a motorola.

[nfotiu]

Originally posted by hulkrogan@Aug 13 2004, 06:43 PM
^ Exactly what I was thinking. I can't remember if it was on here, but some monkey was talking about how another HAWCS helicopter was unnecessary and the money should be put to a "worth while use", well this is exactly where HAWCS saves lives and still gets the bad guy.

you might be able to outrun a police crusier, but you can't outrun a motorola.

I think the Calgary Police abused their helicopter though. It must have woke me up on average every third night with its motor and spotlights when I was living in Bankview. They actually used it to try to shutdown a backyard party I was having on Canada Day one year.

[Daradon]

Yeah I was totally against the second police helicopter too. I've lived around fish creek for most of my life, and you can hear it flying around there all night like 3 nights a week. I'm guessing criminals run in there to lose them, but i'm not sure that we have dangerous criminals that often down there. For the most part they seem to be chasing complaints and kids. I don't know, but I can't see us needing two.

And besides, it costs a ton of money. It has no back rotor, that's supposedly what keps it more silent, so it has jet engines. You knoe how much jet fuel costs right? You know where that money is coming from right? Those stupid ticket quotas (only major city in Canada left having them, it's right on a officer's webpage, he wants to get rid of them) and the Multinova tax.

No Cow, Edmonton doesn't have a helicopter. I'm not sure Van even has one, though I would think they would have too. All I remember is that when we got our first they said the only other Canadian city to have one was Toronto.

[Cowperson]

I lived in Wildwood, not far from the river embankment, and Mrs. Cowperson and I would be awakened at 2 a.m. fairly often, especially in summer, with a helicopter overhead and a searchlight shining up and down the street and back alleys!!!

Well, at least they were on the job!!

We didn't mind much.

Cowperson

[Bill Bumface]

A second helicopter is needed because you can't fly a helicopter 24 hours a day, they need maintenance.

I can't believe people that complain about being woken up by HAWCS. I'm of the attitude of Cowperson, if the light shines in my window at night and wakes me up I think "Good, maybe that guy won't be breaking into my house/stealing my car", not "Its just some kid that held soemone up at knifepoint at an ATM, is this really worth waking a bunch of people up for?"

After about 3 or 4 stabbings and a shooting last week I think people should realize we don't live in a small town anymore. We have serious and dangerous crimes occuring, why not be proactive so we don't end up like LA or Chicago or Detroit or Baltimore.. or.. or ...or?

[Daradon]

Yeah we got the searchlight a few times too, sometomes followed by a cruiser, well, crusing down the street.

I can see the need for one though, and you're right, didn't mind it too much, but two?

And sometimes I wonder if it isn'tt just a big toy for them. Like one poster said, it's possible they may be abusing it's use a little. I'm of the same opinion.

It's probably a uninformed opinion, but I'd like a report or timetable or something on it so I could be better informed. Where the money goes, how many people they arrest/flight and what they arrest them on (are they truly dangerous or are we getting a little bit big brotherish?) Until they release that kind of information, I know where I sit on the debate.

[aaaa]

Originally posted by Daradon@Aug 13 2004, 07:30 PM
No Cow, Edmonton doesn't have a helicopter. I'm not sure Van even has one, though I would think they would have too. All I remember is that when we got our first they said the only other Canadian city to have one was Toronto.

No, Edmonton does have a helicopter. I believe it was accquired in 2001. Interestingly enough, I was watching Global news and they showed a statistic that police pursuits had gone up 56% since the helicopter came in. It's really puzzling as to why our chase numbers are so high.

[AvengeR]

Yes Edmonton has a helicopter too. Once we got one they wanted one too. They got ripped off though. THey are renting theirs from a different company and didn;t do much research and therefore bought a helicoptor that has less features, slower and comsumes more fuel than HAWC1. And the best part is, they paid more than Calgary Police did. Their city council is not happy with the police since they found out HACW1 could do more than their helicopter.

Also HAWC1 can go into stealth mode where it makes no noise at all, but that consumes about 3X the fuel.

[Daradon]

Originally posted by aaaa+Aug 13 2004, 07:48 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (aaaa @ Aug 13 2004, 07:48 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Daradon@Aug 13 2004, 07:30 PM
No Cow, Edmonton doesn't have a helicopter. I'm not sure Van even has one, though I would think they would have too. All I remember is that when we got our first they said the only other Canadian city to have one was Toronto.

No, Edmonton does have a helicopter. I believe it was accquired in 2001. Interestingly enough, I was watching Global news and they showed a statistic that police pursuits had gone up 56% since the helicopter came in. It's really puzzling as to why our chase numbers are so high. [/b][/quote]
Well paint me red and call me embarased... (insert embarrased smilie here)

Yeah, why are there so many chase then? They like seeing the chopper out?

[Bill Bumface]

Originally posted by Daradon@Aug 13 2004, 12:37 PM
I can see the need for one though, and you're right, didn't mind it too much, but two?

As previously mentioned, helicopters can't fly 24 hours. Maintenance.

[AvengeR]

I believe the maintenance requires that HAWC1 be taken apart. So it will be out of commission for a few months.

[Daradon]

Originally posted by hulkrogan+Aug 13 2004, 07:56 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (hulkrogan @ Aug 13 2004, 07:56 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Daradon@Aug 13 2004, 12:37 PM
I can see the need for one though, and you're right, didn't mind it too much, but two?

As previously mentioned, helicopters can't fly 24 hours. Maintenance. [/b][/quote]
Our police officers are among the lowest paid in Canada. How about giving them a raise and getting rid of those stupid ticket quotas first? The officers hate em as much as we do. You can have a great year, be on your way for a promotion, but miss your quota once, and get a permanent mark on your record. And you would think it can interfere with some of the serious work late in the month if officers are scrambling to fill their quotas.

Maybe we'd have happier and more helpful officers if we treated them a little better.

EDIT: spelling

[Cube Inmate]

Originally posted by Daradon@Aug 13 2004, 01:30 PM
And besides, it costs a ton of money. It has no back rotor, that's supposedly what keps it more silent, so it has jet engines. You knoe how much jet fuel costs right? You know where that money is coming from right? Those stupid ticket quotas (only major city in Canada left having them, it's right on a officer's webpage, he wants to get rid of them) and the Multinova tax.

No Cow, Edmonton doesn't have a helicopter. I'm not sure Van even has one, though I would think they would have too. All I remember is that when we got our first they said the only other Canadian city to have one was Toronto.

The lack of tail rotor doesn't significantly increase fuel consumption. HAWCS has a gas turbine engine (like most large helicopters) and doesn't simply shoot exhaust out the end of the tail to counter the torque of the main rotor...it uses aerodynamic wings combined with exhaust and the downdraft from the main rotor. According to manufacturer's website, the average fuel cost is $58US/hour. I'd rather have that thing up there burning $80CAD/hour than 5 cop cars parked at Tim Horton's burning $20/hour. More expensive? Yes... Worthwhile? I think so.

How expensive is jet fuel anyhow? For airlines, US DoT seems to have it hovering around $1US / gallon...significantly cheaper than the retail price for gasoline.

According to the police website (google search "hawcs helicopter"), ours was actually the first in Canada. If I remember, the hype about it back then was that "even Toronto doesn't have one!"


Da manufacturer!

[Cube Inmate]

Originally posted by AvengeR@Aug 13 2004, 01:53 PM
Also HAWC1 can go into stealth mode where it makes no noise at all, but that consumes about 3X the fuel.

I'll assume you mean "much less noise," but can you explain this "stealth" mode?? I certainly can't find anything about this on the web.

[Cowboy]

Originally posted by fotze@Aug 13 2004, 08:28 PM
I talked to a former alderman that is now a MLS at depth one night. He was going on about the benefits that police get that I had never heard of. He said all children of police get free university educations, he was quite adamant that they were compensated quite handsomnley and people were not told of this. Can anyone confirm this.

I think if the cost benefit analysis shows an additional police helicopter is beneficial than I am all for it. But breaking up backyard parties is just ridiculous.

I just recieved my form letter about my break in. It was hilarious. The police I dealt with were great, although it's been 4 days I've waited since last paging him.

Well I have a friend and her dad was SGT. in the Calgary Police...she paid for her education...

I am sure there are some scholarships, just as there are in lots of other jobs.

[AvengeR]

I guess it depends on how high up it is when in stealth mode. From the website it says that at 500 feet, it is 72 decibels.