Barrio Bird Extinction: Kansas City Police Cut Back Helicopters

Here at TKC the sound of police choppers are a constant and nearly as comforting as freight train horns blaring into the late night. 

However . . . 

The precious ears of the new gentry don't like the noise and in KC along with other nouveau riche enclaves across the nation they're telling police to pipe down. 

The premise of this report we're sharing . . . 

"Police departments lack persuasive evidence of crime-fighting effectiveness even as costly choppers around the nation undermine the quality of urban life."

Here's a glimpse at the trend already taking hold in Kansas City . . .

"High costs have led some agencies to scale back their helicopter operations in recent years. The police department in Kansas City, Missouri, was an early adopter that rapidly expanded its unit in the 1970s. But by 1995, the department reduced its aerial personnel from 30 to eight. And in 2001, it shrunk its fleet from seven to three helicopters."

However . . .

Caveat given that TKC missed his calling in writing ad copy for sh*tty 80s action movies . . .  

You only need one Blue Thunder.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Are police helicopter fleets worth the money?

Los Angeles’ police and sheriff’s departments have amassed among the largest helicopter units of any local law enforcement agencies in the world, costing city and county residents tens of millions of dollars each year for patrols that disproportionately hover over low income communities of color, according to government records.