Ottawa Police Unveil New H135 Police Helicopter
The Ottawa Police Service now has something to combat the ongoing street racing and auto theft problems in Barrhaven.
The City of Ottawa and the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) welcomed presented the new provincially-funded H135 police helicopter at a special event at the Rockcliffe Airport July 30.
“As the Mayor of Ottawa, I am grateful to the Ontario Government for investing in the safety of our residents and communities,” said Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. “Ottawa’s population has exceeded one million and is spread across urban, suburban, and expansive rural areas. This dedicated police helicopter will transform our ability to help combat crime across Ottawa’s vast area. From downtown streets to the rural communities with over 1,000 farms and 26 unique villages, our helicopter will provide crucial aerial support to deter vehicle theft and other crimes.”
The police helicopter will be used to keep Ottawa roadways safe from organized auto theft, street racing and impaired driving. It will also be used for general frontline patrol, serious offences (e.g. active shooter incident) and missing persons searches.
“We are deeply grateful to the province for this generous donation and to the Solicitor General for their unwavering support,” said Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs. “This helicopter is a game-changer for our operational capabilities to support search and rescue operations. Whether it’s a major event downtown or an emergency in a suburban area, we will be able to get there faster thanks to the strong partnership we have with the OPP.”
The helicopter’s maintenance will be under a contract and paid for by the Province. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) will provide both the pilots and ground crew and there will be OPS Tactical Flight Officers paid for and trained by the OPP. The helicopter will be able to assist other police jurisdictions within eastern Ontario with major incidents.
“Our government is making critical investments to ensure Ontario’s police services have the tools and resources they need to keep their communities safe,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “This police helicopter will be critical to helping Ottawa Police and the city of Ottawa crack down on auto thefts, carjackings and street racing while improving response times to address other serious crimes.”
Featured Image: Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs addresses the media at the Rockcliffe Airport.
