The Applicability of a Helicopter Patrol Procedure to Diverse Areas: A Cost‐benefit Evaluation

Abstract

The residential burglary deterrent effects of a helicopter patrol procedure were investigated in four separate areas with a multiple baseline technology. The helicopter was flown during an 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. period in two high density population areas of approximately 9.82 and 14.71 square miles and two low density population areas of 117.49 and 89.97 square miles. The helicopter patrol reduced residential burglaries without crime displacement in the two high density areas but had no deterrent effects in the low density areas. The costs of the helicopter patrol were justified by the benefits that resulted from the reduced home burglaries in the two high density areas. Because the helicopter patrol program is funded by general tax revenues, there is a disparity between those people paying for the procedure (all residents of Nashville) and those citizens that receive the burglary deterrent benefits (only residents of high-density areas). This distribution of benefit limitation suggests two courses of action: (1) The helicopter should be flown only in high population density areas even though the low population density areas are also victimized by high burglary rates. (2) A more comprehensive burglary reduction program must be developed so that effective deterrence can be realized in low density areas. These latter techniques would supplement helicopter patrol strategies and thus form a comprehensive burglary deterrent package that has an equitable benefit distribution.

The Helicopter Pilot—Swedish Hot-Area Policing From Above

“…Again, we find no significant overall effect. While this is the first study on helicopters to prevent vehicle arsons, prior studies on preventing burglaries have found an effect (Schnelle et al, 1978 ; Kirchner et al, 1980 ). The coefficients are however negative, and for one city it was close to significance with about 1 less burning car than expected on days with a helicopter patrol.…”

“…But the limitation is that this was a high crime area and the reduction in burglaries would be smaller in a low crime area and thereby reverse the cost benefit analysis that speaks for helicopter patrols in high crime areas (Schnelle et al, 1978). These results were replicated in a later study, but only for areas with high burglary levels and with a high population density and not in similar areas with low population density (Kirchner et al, 1980).…”

“…There have been studies where helicopters have been used to patrol hot-areas during hot-times for home burglaries (Schnelle et al, 1978 ; Kirchner et al, 1980 ), cost and potential benefit of helicopters (Alpert et al, 1998 ) and duties performed by police helicopters (Langton, 2014 ).…”

“…Researchers mention the advantage of a greater geographical reach for helicopter patrols compared to conventional car patrols, but also the potential disadvantage of the noise from the helicopters potentially disturbing the residents in the patrolled areas (Schnelle et al, 1978 ; Kirchner et al, 1980 ; Alpert et al, 1998 ; Langton, 2014 ). Overall however there are very few studies and little evidence on the use of helicopters in policing.…”

Applied Behavior Analysis: Understanding and Changing Behavior in the Community—A Representative Review

“…A subsequent study showed decreases in residential burglaries in high-density areas but not low-density areas when police patrols were in effect. The authors discussed a variety of issues related to effectiveness of the program and distribution of costs (Kirchner et al, 1980). A related crime reduction study found that alarms installed in cash drawers activated by the removal of bait money produced an increase in apprehensions but did not reduce robbery incidents (Schnelle et al, 1979).…”