Police helicopters earn council favor, will return to service

The majority of the Colorado Springs City Council gave the nod Monday to ending the two-month grounding of police helicopters.

Eight of nine council members during Monday’s informal meeting gave Police Chief Richard Myers their assent to revive the two-helicopter air support unit.

The holdout was Councilwoman Jan Martin, who had reservations about budgeting for a unit whose costs could rise significantly because of unpredictable maintenance and repair needs.

The two Vietnam War-era helicopters will fly about 725 hours this year — the same as in 2007 when a pilot was deployed as a reservist overseas.

The reduction from about 1,100 hours the previous year will save $130,000, making the cost $359,700.

The budget includes about $15,000 to inspect and repair one helicopter, which is in Fort Collins and is due back within days, and at least $61,000 in repairs and maintenance for the other aircraft before it goes to Fort Collins for an inspection. It’s unclear when it would be ready for patrols.

Myers told the council the unit is a “force multiplier,” because it can get to scenes faster — two minutes compared with 10½ minutes for cruisers — and has 30 times the observation capability of ground units.

“There’s no question it’s worthwhile,” he said, noting it assisted in 2,641 arrests, 1,273 of them felonies, since it began in 1996. “What we cannot know is everything we prevented.”

Some council members were perturbed that the helicopter unit was axed and emerged as an issue after the budget was finalized. They blamed Myers for not providing sufficient information during last fall’s budget sessions.

Councilman Tom Gallagher accused Myers of undermining the council’s policy-setting authority. The council has set a policy to strive for the shortest response times possible, and grounding the air unit eroded response times, he said.

“It’s irresponsible to have a community of 185 square miles and not have the ability to do this,” Gallagher said.

Councilman Scott Hente said it was the council’s duty to fight for the unit last year. Hente, who went to bat for several public safety line items but not the helicopter, said citizens have lobbied him to revive the unit. “They say, ‘How can we even question an air asset that can give this kind of response time?’” he said, “and they’re right.”

Mayor Lionel Rivera said the process, while abnormal, led to more information being revealed, which helped the council “understand what the air unit was doing to make our community safer.”

“I think this is a great add back to the budget,” Rivera said.

The council will amend the 2008 budget at its Feb. 19 meeting, clearing the way for a March 1 takeoff.

Money for the unit will come from donations to the Police Department held in trust, $167,857; Colorado Springs Utilities, which benefits from flyovers of power plants, lines and reservoirs, $50,000; and from the unit’s 2007 budget carryover, $141,843, left because reduced flying hours.

DETAILS

Mayor Lionel Rivera said discussion led to more information being revealed, which helped the council “understand what the air unit was doing to make our community safer.”