Police chopper wanted on Coast

[grace]

Police chopper wanted on Coast

Matthew Killoran

December 31st, 2008

goldcoast.com.au

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2008/1...-top-story.html

 

THERE are renewed calls for a police helicopter to be based on the Gold Coast after a wanted man slipped through a police dragnet yesterday.

 

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter eventually joined the hunt but it was too late to make a difference.

 

The man, in his 20s, had been driving north on Olsen Avenue in a red Toyota Seca when police ran a check on the number plates and discovered they were false.

 

The driver refused to pull over and a pursuit ensued.

 

It was called off shortly afterwards when police lost sight of the car after it turned east into Smith Street.

 

A search began for the motorist after the car was found abandoned in Green Glen Road, Ashmore.

 

Police began patrolling with at least two marked and two unmarked cars, the dog squad, a police motorcycle and later the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

 

The dog squad followed the scent into the Ashmore Police-Citizens Youth Clubs in Dominion Road but there it was lost.

 

The motorist was described as Caucasian, dressed in all black, with a moustache and was of scruffy appearance.

 

Queensland is the only state in Australia without its own police helicopter.

 

Yesterday was not the first time Gold Coast police have had to rely on a rescue helicopter in a search.

 

The RACQ CareFlight helicopter was used in the hunt for a man who escaped from police custody in November.

 

A Queensland Police Union spokesman said it was ludicrous that Queensland police did not have their own helicopter.

 

"The general public knows that, police know that, we just need the Government to realise that," he said.

 

"Places such as the Gold Coast would benefit from the police helicopter."

 

He said a helicopter could help police keep track of car chases and suspects on foot.

 

"Police helicopters are useful for that kind of thing, they're also used for many other types of police work," he said.

 

"It is easy to keep surveillance on criminals who might be driving around the Gold Coast.

 

"It would take three or four cars to co-ordinate a tail so we don't tip off a suspect, but with a helicopter they have no idea the helicopter is hovering above."

 

He said helicopters were also useful for spotting drug crops.

 

In early December, a police helicopter crew was used in a drug raid in northern New South Wales led to three arrests and more than 3000 cannabis plants being seized.

 

Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke has campaigned for a police helicopter for six years. He said relying on the rescue helicopters was not good enough.

 

"There's a difference between police work and rescue work," said Cr Clarke.

 

"There have been numerous occasions when the Westpac helicopter wasn't available. It was on some other duty."

 

Police Minister Judy Spence has repeatedly rejected calls for police helicopters, saying they are too expensive.

[Bris-Stoner]

must of been a kiwi running that quick

[Indycar]

Quite intriguing that there is this renewed call for the QPS to get their own helicopter. When there's been repeated comments from the Qld Police Commissioner (Bob Atkinson) that he wants to see fixed wing aircraft. Good to see everyone is on the same page..

 

I suppose it'd be silly to suggest to them, to stop wasting their resources in busting the home growers 'n put those funds towards whatever type of aircraft they want. Lay off half their Drug Squad 'n there's their fleet of aircraft in the first year..

 

[JaykeSucks]

I never knew QLD didn't have a police chopper. Well, I know where I'm going if I ever feel like getting in a police chase

[Teucer]

Yup - no chopper up here. It's great.

 

And Judy Spence doesn't want one! That's even better.

 

Let's pray they stay divided and NEVER get any sort of aircraft. The less effective the force, the better we are.