Peoria's First Police/Fire Aviation Unit Stood Up

[clover509]

Happened to see a new and unfamiliar N-number helicopter go over the house in the North Valley... lo and behold:

Arizona city launches first-ever aviation unit with Bell 505 helicopter

The City of Peoria will use its Bell 505 to enhance public safety capabilities in the West Valley.

verticalmag.com

Will keep an eye on UniTrunker to hopefully capture a radio ID.

 

[GlobalNorth]

A waste of taxpayer cash.

Scottsdale has more of a tax base - no helicopter.
Paradise Valley is the most wealthy town in AZ - no helicopter.
Glendale has a larger tax base - nope.
Chandler - no helicopter.
Gilbert - nope.

I know some of the personalities involved. It is nothing more than getting the government to pay for their toy and their hobby.

 

[DanRollman]

I read this article and my first thought was "police departments still buy new helicopters?" Thought those that are still flying are flying because they already have them. Airborne law enforcement surveillance is a UAV activity now.

 

[DanRollman]

A waste of taxpayer cash.

Scottsdale has more of a tax base - no helicopter.

Scottsdale is also home to Axon. Axon knows UAVs are the future of ALE (airborne law enforcement).

https://www.axon.com/resources/police-drones

 

[DanRollman]

I had no hand in the ironic timing of this (though you wouldn't know it from above):

https://www.axios.com/2024/07/24/police-drone-arizona-911-dispatch