Here’s to Huntington’s helicopters

Margaret Cooper

I read with sarcastic cynicism the mailbag letters written by John

Fick and G. Rento (Sept. 26, 2002). This of course was after learning

that my neighbor had just sold their home, for greener grass in

Seacliff, for $620,000. It was purchased brand new six years ago for

$260,000. Property values have really increased in Surf City

recently. I am acutely aware that because of the weather and relative

safety found here, Huntington Beach is a very desirable place to

live.

It is by no mistake that I find myself living here. You see, I am

a sheriff’s deputy who grew up in Los Angeles County, where

helicopters fly routinely at altitudes of 300 to 400 feet. I also

worked in the county jails and had the opportunity to discuss with

criminals the place they least enjoyed committing crime. It was right

here in Huntington Beach.

It was because the citizens have the reputation for calling the

police immediately over the most seemingly minute details, and the

police have a zero tolerance on crime philosophy when they are

summoned. There is also credit to the most efficiently run air unit

in the country (according to a DMG audit) that, if flying, greatly

reduces the likelihood of escape.

I had the privilege of meeting a pilot in line at Starbucks and

learned that the unit had been in existence since 1968. Each pilot is

a police officer and has a commercial helicopter license.

In 2001, the unit wrote more than 400 traffic tickets to traffic

violators and witnessed another 2,000 where no ground officer was

available to write one. They were involved in 231 felony and 397 misdemeanor arrests. They also responded to more than 6,047 calls for

service and canceled 721 units responding to calls where an officer

was no longer needed.

I also learned that they utilize infrared at night to that allows

them to check businesses, schools, parks, wetlands for seeping oil

wells, participate in scientific studies of beach bacteria, etc. They

also communicate with Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station and Los

Alamitos Army airfield in matters related to homeland security.

The “guidelines” in Fick’s articles are plain silly. If the

helicopter and ground units could only work on apprehending a suspect

for five minutes, every crook would be looking at their watches, and

so would the police, who should be looking for the suspect.

In response to the places Rento lived in the past, guess what?

Miami, Boston, San Diego, and Los Angeles all have air units that do

fly orbits over crime scenes. Los Angeles will put out three to four

helicopters simultaneously in a shift. Rento’s novel idea of putting

out foot patrols and police cars alone is shortsighted and truly

exhibits the conceptual lack of understanding of law enforcement.

The comment about a child being killed by a speeding car should be

addressed to the City Council, which continues to whittle away the

Huntington Beach traffic unit to less than half of what it was when I

moved here in 1984, despite a significant population increase.

Huntington Beach also has one of the lowest ratio of officers to

residents in the nation. I also learned that Huntington Beach is

experiencing recruiting problems, and this issue will only fester

until something is done about it.

The flip side of aerial law enforcement is noise, which Huntington

Beach is keenly aware of. It makes sense that the majority of noise

complaints come in the summer when the weather is hot and windows are

open. They fly the quietest helicopter in the Los Angeles Basin and

from 700 feet and above. The airspace here is unrestricted, so much

louder civilian, military, fire and other police and sheriff’s

departments, fly here regularly.

The collective genius and obvious intellect of Fick and Rento in

relation to law enforcement is nothing short of the “what about me?”

mentality that permeates a section of society that cares only for

their own needs. I like the idea that Huntington Beach is flying and

protecting my family. It is a safe place for my family to live and

enjoy the benefits of home equity.

* MARGARET COOPER is a Huntington Beach resident. To contribute

to “Sounding Off,” you can e-mail us at hbindy@latimes.com.