Police helicopters take more heat
Inasmuch as I appreciate the fine job that our Police Department
does, the issue of helicopter noise is one that needs to be addressed
(“Residents seek quiet on Newport front,” July 30). I am awakened
regularly at all hours of the night with the police helicopter
buzzing our house but rarely, if ever, read about any crime in the
area that would justify this type of taxpayer expense and regular
sleep disruption. With the increase in noise from lawnmowers, leaf
blowers, boomboxes, motorcycle mufflers and sirens (read: more
people), we need some time when we can have a little peace and quiet.
I would like to suggest that we use this resource for emergencies
rather than routine patrol.
JILL WATKINS
Corona del Mar
I am very happy to hear the helicopter flying over my house. Every
night, when they are going to land, they fly directly over my roof at
a very low level and it does not bother me or my wife. We feel very
secure knowing they are on the job. If we are asleep, we don’t even
hear them. As far as I’m concerned, resident Rene Jacober has two
options: 1. Get some ear plugs. 2. Move.
JOHN GORDON
Costa Mesa
A friend complained to me that a house on her street is home to
six elderly people, and if there is a medical emergency and 911 is
called not only do the ambulance and firetrucks arrive, but a chopper
circles overhead until the paramedics leave. When this happens in the
middle of the night, there is no sleep for anyone on the street.
Surely some screening could eliminate the use of a chopper in this
kind of incidence.
BETTS HARLEY
Costa Mesa
I am in support of the helicopter program. The reason why is I
represent a group of 30 Costa Mesa radio amateur operator volunteers
that serve the community communications by supplying the city with
hundreds of volunteer hours each month in providing emergency
communications and emergency communications preparedness.
One of the programs that we volunteer for is putting our amateur
television equipment in the helicopter in case of lost children, in
case of fires. This is a volunteer program that the helicopter
program provides for us, and we’re probably the only city in the
state, probably the only city in the country that has amateur radio
television, live television pictures, coming from the helicopter to
hand-radio operators on the ground for safety protection in times of
emergency, as well as our drills. It’s an exciting program.
We support the helicopter program wholeheartedly, and they work
closely with the volunteers.
GORDON WEST
Costa Mesa
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