But it can certainly offer part of the solution. One of the best examples of the usefulness of police helicopters is in pursuits. Pursuits involving helicopters can be conducted with much less risk to the public. They represent a no-win situation for those fleeing who often simply give up once they know a helicopter is involved. Apprehension rates increase dramatically which means a greater number of criminals are put behind bars.
Auto theft is an example of a crime that is reduced by police helicopters.
In the first year that Calgary had a police helicopter, auto thefts dropped considerably. Property crime in outlying commercial and industrial areas is reduced because of the effectiveness of the helicopter in patrolling large areas and detecting suspicious activity. Because of the helicopter's rapid response time, it is very effective in intervening in all types of crimes in progress. Like Calgary, Edmonton's boundaries are expanding. Another key feature of Edmonton's geography is our well-developed system of river valley parks.