The Los Angeles Police Department’s air support division, recognized as the largest of its kind in the United States with 17 helicopters and over 90 employees, has faced scrutiny in the first-ever audit conducted by the L.A. City Controller’s Office. The audit revealed that 61% of the division’s flight time is allocated to low-priority incidents, resulting in an annual cost to L.A. taxpayers of nearly $50 million. Inefficient and inappropriate utilization of city funds was noted, including passenger shuttle flights for events like a “Chili Fly-In” and a flyby at a golf tournament.
L.A. City Controller Kenneth Mejia expressed concerns about the lack of a clear link between helicopter patrols and crime reduction, stating that there is no persuasive empirical evidence supporting such a connection. The audit disclosed insufficient oversight within the air support division, despite its higher cost compared to 14 other city departments. Contrary to expectations, the neighborhoods frequently patrolled by LAPD helicopters did not consistently exhibit higher crime rates.
Sergio Perez, L.A. City Controller Chief of Oversight, highlighted the absence of a tight relationship between crime allegations and helicopter patrols in certain neighborhoods, including those in South Los Angeles and East Los Angeles. The audit also criticized the air support division for not adhering to best practices to minimize nuisance noise, often flying below the recommended distance from the ground. Concerns were raised about the environmental impact, citing the significant pollution generated by the helicopter program.
Responding to the audit, LAPD Chief Michel Moore emphasized the critical role of the air support division in public safety, arriving at scenes ahead of patrol units and providing crucial information. Chief Moore credited air support for additional patrols to prevent crimes like residential burglaries and responding to officer assistance calls involving violent and highly dangerous situations. The L.A. City Controller’s Office issued 14 recommendations in the audit, including updates to the department’s performance metrics and goals.