Cop choppers are crime stoppers, not just noise

So once again, after a few year’s rest, another resident questions

the benefit of the Costa Mesa/Newport Beach Airborne Law Enforcement

Program (“Residents seek quiet on Newport front,” Tuesday). Once

again, because of occasional noise, the cry goes up that it is a

constant noise problem, a costly burden and nothing more than an

expensive toy.

Sounds to me that Newport Beach resident Rene Jacober and his

group have already made their decision about the program and its

benefits to the citizens of Costa Mesa and Newport Beach before they

review any data that would go against their position.

Congratulations again to the leadership of both cities in creating

a program that is a national example of cooperative law enforcement,

and which plays a leading role in reducing crime in Newport-Mesa.

In my opinion, solely the ability of the helicopter to provide

specific direction to patrol units on the ground, thus providing

additional protection to those officers on a call, is reason enough

for the program to exist. The life of one officer potentially saved

from harm due to the ability of the helicopter pilot and observer to

inform them of a suspect’s location and actions speaks for itself.

While the Airborne Law Enforcement Program should not have carte

blanche, any reasonable, rational individual will agree that the

benefits of this program far outweigh the costs to taxpayers.

SCOTT SMITH

Costa Mesa

So Rene Jacober’s rest is disturbed by the police helicopter. Too

bad. I live in the area of the lower Back Bay and every time I hear

that “wop wop wop” noise, I am reassured that our Police Department

is on the job. Day and night, they are there to protect us. If a

suspect was cornered on the ground, I suppose Jacober would complain

if our wonderful police dog was barking at a cornered suspect and his

“peace and quiet” and “good night’s sleep” was disturbed.

JANET SPEERS-BARON

Newport Beach