What? No Helicopter?
We got a letter from a 020th District reader last night. He related that there had been a prisoner escape from 020 and due to a coordinated effort on the part of numerous Districts, the offender was re-apprehended within hours, possibly in the 010th District.
However, he lamented the fact that the helicopter and it's million candlepower light and infrared technology was unavailable for actually, you know, looking for an escaped prisoner in the dark. True? We have little doubt on that count.
Chicago/Mayberry. We can hardly wait for the Olympics.
However, he lamented the fact that the helicopter and it's million candlepower light and infrared technology was unavailable for actually, you know, looking for an escaped prisoner in the dark. True? We have little doubt on that count.
Chicago/Mayberry. We can hardly wait for the Olympics.
Labels: we got nothing
posted by SCC at 12:02 AM
52 Comments:
We had a similar experience in 005 a few nights ago. 3 or 4 guys running with guns at 117/Aberdeen, Lt. asked if the helicopter was up, of course it wasn't. I guess they like their crime on a 9-5 schedule. Pathetic.
Anyone that was on scene when Det. Johnson was shot, will recall that the helicopter was requested, pilot was RDO. It took almost 3 hrs to get the chopper out to the scene. It was very disheartening to hear that. What a joke!!!
does this REALLY surprise you??
i have a 10 million candle power rechargeable spotlight i take to wis. i bought it for 50.00 at gander mtn.
maybee the guys in the old chopper should buy one and just point it out the window.
WTF
Heard it over the zone - Helicopter only runs from 1400 - 2200 hrs. Apparently, there is no crime outside of those hours, like there is no need to run a name or license plate at midnight. I find it odd that the coppers in my home town (mid-size, southern city) bitch that their helicopter has to be downed for 30 min every 3 hours or so yet is operating 24 hours, while the second largest (in theory) PD in the nation can only seem to manage one shift.
i was listening to the city wide when a request was made for "police Helicopter 1" as those units were looking for the escapee. They called for the bird 3 times and no one answered up. Just like everything in this department it looks nice the brass tries to impressed the public but it dosent work. We need to get the word out about how fucked up this department is. Somebody call Amy Jacobson now their is a bitch who aint afraid to put it all on the line. Enjoy unemployment fuckin cop hater.
helicopter unit is staffed with extra heavy coppers. clot is what this deptment runs on not anything else.
You must remember that the unit is basically new, and as of yet there are not enough pilots to fly the thing 24/7. Also we only have two helicopters when we should have about 6 or 7. It is a problem to not get the thing when you want or need it. We have called for it too only to hear that it was not available. You must remember that this is a new unit and it takes time to get things up and running. And no, I am not in the unit, nor do I aspire to be.
the othe morning about 6am 3bad guys bail from hot ride as state police give chase into douglas park.cpd on scene to assist,request made for AIR 1,SORRY THEY dont start work until 1400hrs.bad guys get away.
pilot was RDO. It took almost 3 hrs to .. 7/12/2007 01:01:00 AM
Helicopter only runs from 1400 - 2200 hrs. 7/12/2007 01:07:00 AM
Whats the beef? The pilot is RDO, at home, called in and responded. Sorry, it takes time to prepare and respond. Secondly, when there is only 1 pilot working (due to furlo's) they only work one shift.
Do any of you have a clue to operating a helo unit? What about safety? There are 2 helo's - but very few personnel in the unit, one pilot can only fly so many missions or so many hours before it becomes an officer safety issue.
Why can't there ever be any positive comments on this blog? One positive gets 50 negatives... I understand complaining, but I just wish people would make even a meager attempt to see what the reality is, and take that into consideration, some of the time.....
THE PRISONER HEARD THAT ACTING DESK SGT TORRES WORKED IN 010 AND DECIDED TO GIVE UP STATING THAT HE COULD NOT GET AWAY IT WAS LIKE BATMAN AND DIRTY HARRY WAS HUNTING HIM DOWN
I was working the taste on the 5th. There was WGCI concert going on that ended at 8PM --- 5:30 PM "Air 1 on the Zone we will be up here if you need us",
7:45 (just before concert ends) "Air 1 gotta go refuel at Midway"
8:30 PM "Air 1 having mechanical problems gotta go to Gary"
9:00 PM "Air 1 returning to City wide 1 good night"
USELESS waste of more tax money not used properly.
The reason it is not helping you guys out and doing its job is because Richie has it helping out on the new batman movie. Dont believe drive past wells and polk and you will see it with the movie chopper. Hmmm Crime or pocket money and rubbing elbows????
Did not take three hours for the chopper to show up on the Det's shooting. One request was made and turned down. Second request was made minutes later with the emphasis on PO being shot and the bird was on the air 45 min later.
Granted, 45 minutes is 45 minutes. But it sure is not three hours.
So everyone knows the prisoner belonged to a one person traffic unit (3200 unit) not a 020 District car...
this city is a joke. no way we get the olymics.
The helicopter unit has been around for well over a year now and there are two helicopters. As far as I know, they have not been involved in a single arrest in the city of Chicago during all of that time. They have not been in a pursuit or chase of any kind. They have not done any kind of real police work in all of that time. All they seem to do is ask for event numbers to justify their existance. Are there any police officers in that unit? Is there anybody there who actually wants to be the police? I would have thought that pilots would want to fly but these machines are never available when you need them. Who is running that friggn' operation and why is he still there?
ONLY big citys have the big tools ---
Hey, but the chopper was flying everyday over the taste to tell us there were big crowds in Gant Park.
I heard the chopper guys fly to the lake and dump half thier fuel, so they have to return, refuel, then tour is over.
There was a notice a few weeks back that they were looking for qualified pilots. Maybe lack of manpower was the situation.
I'm sure there would be plenty of people who would take lessons and learn how to fly it if the schooling was paid for.
We all know THAT won't happen.
WE WASTED MILLIONS JUST SO HARRY THE HAT COULD GET HIS HELICOPTER! MORE WASTED MONEY HOPE THE FEDS ARE LOOKING INTO THIS ALSO! THIS CITY UNDER DALEYS CRIMINAL COMMAND STERALS MORE MONEY THAN ANYONE EXCEPT FOR JESSE JACKOSN AND ASSHOLE FLAKY!
Realisticly, the helo can't be in the air at all times, maintenance must be performed on schedule + or - 10% by flight hours and we only have one. You wouldn't like to be called back to duty on your day off and even if you were I bet it would take you a while to get there. I am not trying to defend the Air unit here and I'm not a member, but I have loads of aviation experience. Police work is pretty much done by "winging it" and we have to make do with what we have at hand.The helo is a great tool when available but if it's down you can't just start 'er up and go. If anyone should be angry at the Air unit, it's me because I have the experience and license to get in but was passed up due to "No clout-No phone call-No get in unit", but I hate to see people bad mouthing something thats good.
yea i was on the zone that night and when the sgt asked for the helicopter all you could hear over the radio was smart ass comments about it..ya know like "what helicopter" etc..just goes to show what a joke it is but im sure our next sup will fix all the problems..ya know really "shake things up"
This morning Newsradio 78 aired a story about a sailboat lost off Navy Pier. They interviewed the head of the Helicopter and Marine Unit as a Lieutenant Commander. When was that rank created?
I heard a a radio exchange
on city 1 a couple Monday's ago. A request for the bird
was responded to with,
the helicopter does not
work on Monday.
the helecopter is always up during the numerous south side anti-crime marches. It has become a PR joke. Its like the DARE Corvette Its all for show.
They tried to call out our helicopter to assist in searching for the last missing boater Wednesday. This is about 0900. The only answer was that the chopper was "unavailable".
Does anyone know, does the helo pilot have a take home car?
This is a situation where one is warranted, not like the commander of graphic arts. How many times does he get called at 3 AM to print up some retirement fylers?
Name the pilots and you will identify their sponsors!
I heard that the chopper 1 was down, Seizer took his personal car to the chopper in the 4th District by the beach, repaired it, and jumped in the pilot seat and caught an escapee from the county and was involved in a high speed pursuit in Indiana with the chopper.
Seizer should be Superintendent!
"but I just wish people would make even a meager attempt to see what the reality is, and take that into consideration, some of the time....."
We do and are disgusted by another 1/2 assed implementation of a resource.That is the Hallmark of this Department& This City. You keep going thru life w/ the rosecolored glasses& your head straight up your ass. Meanwhile the realists will call it for what it is, A case study in mediocrity
Helicopter only runs from 1400 - 2200 hrs. Apparently
Yes, during the time one of the pilots are on furlo the unit will only work one watch. How many hours do you want the pilot to work? I know lots of guys work 24/7 with NO DAYS OFF and NO PAY all the time. Who else wants to volunteer for it? When you are ready to do that, then go ahead and complain. Unfortunately, the department doesn't have the manpower or equipment to have a bird up 24/7.
To the guy who complained the bird was up over the taste (THEIR ASSIGNMENT) for 2.5 hours then had to refuel... well you can only fly so long before refueling, and 3 hours is about the absolute max. What do you want? Or is it just to complain? Eventually, I hope more of the rank and file on this job come to see the advantage of the helicopters.
1 PILOT YOU GOTTA BE JOKING A TWO OCLOCK START. LET ME GUESS WEEKENDS OFF.
MAY B A PILOT SHOULD GET D2A PAY.
YOU FIGURE THIS GUY IS MAKING A REGULAR SALARY. IF HE HAD SOME BRAIN HE WOULD GO WORK IN THE DELLS AND BE A TOUR GUIDE FOR DOUBLE THE MONEY.
SOUND LIKE ANOTHER SCAM LET ME GUESS THEY HAVE A SGT AND LT ALSO FOR WHATEVER THEY CALL THE BATCOPTERS UNIT. LET ME GUESS THEY ARE ALL IRISH TOO.
DONT KNOW ANY LAPA GUYS WITH A PILOT LICENSE.
HERE IS AN IDEA HIRE A CIVILIAN TO FLY THE COPTER AND THE CO PILOT CAN BE A REGULAR PO. CHRIST ITS LIKE PULLING TEETH WITH THIS DEPARTMENT.
HEY HERE-I-AM GROWL IF YOU WIN THE PAGEANT FIX THIS SHIT.GIVE THE BOYS THEIR PDTS AND GIVE THE DICKS LEXUS NEXUS AND THE HORSE POLICE NEW SOFTER SADDLES.
I think the biggest point is that we only have 1 helicopter up and working. In a big "advanced" department like ours, that is insane. Look at New York and L.A. They have us beat handsn down there. IIRC L.A. got it doe with surplus military helicopters that were theirs for the asking. I believe Chicago had the same opportunity. But the helicopters would have needed a little work and Chicago said no. Chicago could have had a fleet for free. I believe this was around the late 80's or early 90's
Also If I remember right, a few years back, a substantial amount of money was set aside for the CPD to break into the aviation field in the form of a government grant but somehow that money turned up missing. A lot of questions started getting asked and lo and behold, we get 1 helicopter and then another. I think the city was forced to pony up and get these helicopters just to stop the questions. And only have two just to say they now have helicopters.
Can anyone confirm this?
The Helicopter is a great tool when utilized properly. Right now the unit is short of pilots and only has two birds. I don't know about chases they were in, but they have assisted on arrests. Give the unit and the people in it a break.
To 01:49:00P.M. Do you have your helicopter rating, or your airframe and powerplant ticket?
If helicopter needs to make an emergency landing on lake Michigan, will the pilot be called "Harry the hat "or "Harry the helmet” Holmes????
i heard the chopper has a crack team of k-9 rope repellers, super section 7 classified though. with parachutes.
Why? The answer is quite simple. Chief pilot Harry (once a pussy, always a pussy) Hohm, only works straight days weekends off. His mommy, who was heavy in the state democratic party, would not have allowed him to be in danger. He did a real good job while he was an inspector, too.
I believe Chicago had the same opportunity. But the helicopters would have needed a little work and Chicago said no. Chicago could have had a fleet for free. I believe this was around the late 80's or early 90's
Also If I remember right, a few years back, a substantial amount of money was set aside for the CPD to break into the aviation field in the form of a government grant but somehow that money turned up missing. A lot of questions started getting asked and lo and behold, we get 1 helicopter and then another. I think the city was forced to pony up and get these helicopters just to stop the questions. And only have two just to say they now have helicopters.
1. Military surplus helo's - can only be used in certain ways - the minimum amount of $ to prepare one for use is about 500,000, but for unrestricted use, it would cost about 1.5 million for each helo to refurbish it and use. So, the "free" ride DOESN"T EXIST.
2. Federal $ was applied for and received to purchase and equip the new helicopter. The second helicopter was acquired from CFD and equipped for CPD use ...
NO MONEY was missing at any time... you are getting extremely bad information here.
The city under daley underfunded again! Guess the combine of daley-degnan-reyes-joyce must have their back pockets overfilled with $$$$$$$$ as usual! PATRICK FITZGERALD PLEASE TO THE "BAT PHONE" INDICTMENTS FOR THE JOKER,RIDDLER,MR. FREEZE,THE PENGUIN SOON! THANK YOU! WE WILL BRING THEM TO 219 DEARBORN IF YOU NEED THEM!
Whats more difficult to get then a copper? Everyone name something the dept has but you never see.
As a matter of fact, I do possess an A&P cretificate and have years of experience on the Kiowa,Huey,Chinook,and Blackhawk helecopters. While I am not a pilot, I have performed the job of crewchief and Aircraft tech. for years before becomming a police officer. I absolutely love to fly, there is nothing like it. I may have been wrong about the number of helo's we have, one opperational and one not,I think,but my point is you can't simply take an aircraft being worked on,slap the covers on it and take off.I'm a little angry about not being in the unit but I expected as much.After all, Who am I?Not what do I know, but Who am I?Right? I'm not badmouthing the unit or personnel, just the clout system as a whole.Why should I have expected anything different?
Yeah, what the fuck is up with having the PDTs go down at midnight? Is it because the day change? Have them go down at 6am.
Has Brad Hespe made it to helicopter unit yet?? He's a pilot and good guy...If they are short pilots why is he not there?? I think he went through the training for several weeks and he is still in 23....why?? mabye if they have the required number of pilots they could operate on a regular schedule...not half ass..
1. Military surplus helo's - can only be used in certain ways - the minimum amount of $ to prepare one for use is about 500,000, but for unrestricted use, it would cost about 1.5 million for each helo to refurbish it and use. So, the "free" ride DOESN"T EXIST.
2. Federal $ was applied for and received to purchase and equip the new helicopter. The second helicopter was acquired from CFD and equipped for CPD use ...
NO MONEY was missing at any time... you are getting extremely bad information here.
7/13/2007 08:13:00 AM
1. I agree that it takes a chunk of money to do that but those figures seem a little high. How was New York and L.A. able to do it? A better idea for us would be to solicit funding from many of the neighboring communities and provide interagency suport. The State did that for a while. How many communities would jump at that chance? If we had several helo's up, we could take care of our own and help out the other agencies. Then the helicopters would provide a real resource and not the window dressing that we are getting now.
2. That money was obtained years ago and was so long ago that it had all but been forgotten. Someone finally started asking questions and the money was initially unaccounted for. Thats cuz there were no real plans to ever get started and it was used for other things. (Nothing new, just politics as usual) This came from very good sources. And why did we have to obtain a helicopter from CFD???? Funny how at one point CFD had 3 but we had none. I remember CFD getting one fully equipped given to them by Dan Rostenkowski AKA rat bastard (may he rot in hell). And theirs could be seen quite often running training exercises.
The way it is right now, the program is a joke. We might as well not even have the program if it is to continue like it is now. It is no different than the rest of the "Elite" units this department has now: If you ain't got the phone call you ain't gonna get there. Like another poster said, it isn't what you know it's who you know. Qualified people are there but are passed over.
ANOTHER DALEY FUCK UP! EITHER DO IT RIGHT OR SELL THE DAM THINGS! AS DALEY WOULD SAY "SIMPLE AS THAT"!
To 7/13/2007 11:10:00A.M
From 7/13/2007 12:34:00A.M,
I agree with you 100%. I would think that someone of your background would be an asset to that unit. Like you I am not knocking the unit (I think it is great if run properly), but am knocking the whole clout system. I don't quite have your aviation background but I have several hundred hours as a private pilot with an instrument rating. I didn't apply to the unit because I am not helicopter rated, and at this stage of the game, (25 years on) along with having to pay college and high school tuitions, I don't have the time or money to get helicopter rated. I hope that if and when the unit is expanded you eventually get there.
FYI the helio can't dump it's fuel while in flight.
"Whats the beef? The pilot is RDO, at home, called in and responded. Sorry, it takes time to prepare and respond. Secondly, when there is only 1 pilot working (due to furlo's) they only work one shift.
Do any of you have a clue to operating a helo unit? What about safety? There are 2 helo's - but very few personnel in the unit, one pilot can only fly so many missions or so many hours before it becomes an officer safety issue.
Why can't there ever be any positive comments on this blog? One positive gets 50 negatives... I understand complaining, but I just wish people would make even a meager attempt to see what the reality is, and take that into consideration, some of the time....."
Are you NUTS?? Just who exactly flies the bird besides THE DEPUTY??I remember when he took all the applications for rotary wing pilots. Guess what? they all hit the trash!!! it's another clout spot created to show an illusion of progress while taking care of, and creating a spot to get a friend of cline a fat pension. It's all bullshit. why did they fit the chopper with night vision and thermal when it only flies during mostly lighted conditions???
Let the people of chicago feel safe, suckers. All police officers on CPD know this city is in for a real disaster when it happens here, yes, even the pompous pricks on the 5th floor know it too
In 12 years I have seen the state police helicopter in the air 5 times before it went down, and the fire dept. chopper once. I have never seen our "air one" ever, even when requested
Why is one of the pilots in the helicopter unit leaving? This guy used to fly Choppers for the Irish Army and has thousands of hours of flying time.
It's because Harry Hohm won't give anyone stick time besides himself. This goof is ruining what could be a decent unit with his big headed bullshit.
<< Home