Residents seek quiet on Newport front

June Casagrande

Alleging that the city’s police helicopter patrols are a noisy and

costly burden to residents, a group called the Committee to Abolish

Helicopter Noise has launched a campaign to keep chopper noise at

bay.

The newly formed committee, led by Eastbluff resident Rene

Jacober, has requested that city officials produce a long list of

documents revealing the helicopter program’s cost and effectiveness.

Jacober said representatives of the group will probably hold pickets

at City Hall and the Police Department headquarters, and also speak

at City Council meetings on the subject.

“The least we’re entitled to is a little peace and quiet in our

own homes,” Jacober said.

Newport Beach Police Chief Bob McDonell said the helicopter

program seeks to provide the most effective law enforcement possible

with the least possible noise.

“We’re very sensitive to noise, and our equipment is the quietest

on the market,” McDonell said.

Police helicopter patrols in the city, which are operated by a

joint powers agreement with Costa Mesa called the Airborne Law

Enforcement program, use a state-of-the-art Eurocopter EC 120 as well

as a McDonnell Douglas 500. Helicopters in the program patrol Newport

Beach and Costa Mesa on a regular basis, but try to avoid areas and

altitudes most likely to annoy residents.

“The only reason a helicopter would be flying over your house is

if there’s a call for service in your area,” McDonell said.

But to Jacober, these efforts fall far short of allowing him and

his neighbors a good night’s sleep. In a letter to McDonell, Jacober

said he is pestered by late-night patrols almost every night.

Further, he said, the helicopter program may not be the best use of

taxpayer money, especially in tough financial times.

“The Police Department doesn’t need this kind of expensive toy,”

he said.

The Airborne Law Enforcement program cut the city’s costs of

airborne patrols from about $2.3 million a year to about $1.8 million

by consolidating costs with Costa Mesa. The helicopters are used for

patrols, suspect pursuits and sometimes to fight fires. They are

equipped with infrared viewing systems that can detect a person

fleeing on foot, as well as heat-indicated information, such as a hot

car engine. The city has used police helicopters for about 25 years.