A Merger That Flies Well in Hard Times : 2 Cities, County Consolidate Police Helicopter Services to Cut Duplication, Costs

The good advice came from the Orange County Grand Jury: “All communities in the county would profit from a centralized approach to helicopter service, and all cities should have regular access to this modern approach to law enforcement.” The recommendation was made in 1970. Part of it is finally coming true.

Last week the Sheriff’s Department and the cities of Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach formed a regional police helicopter unit. Other cities with police helicopters, like Anaheim and Newport Beach, and those without them, should seriously think about joining the unit.

The motivation is money. With budgets growing tighter, the departments saw a chance for savings by consolidating maintenance operations for the departments. Lack of staff had forced Huntington Beach to ground its helicopters during the day on Monday and Tuesday.

It took more than a year to get the merger this far, and the three agencies will keep separate control over personnel, equipment and budgets. But it’s a good first step. The three are already planning to contract their police helicopter services to cities without their own choppers, and to charge for the service.

Some police chiefs in the county already have raised the possibility of linking law enforcement records to a central office and establishing a uniform, countywide reporting system for auto theft. No one wants to yield turf or power, but as Costa Mesa Police Chief David L. Snowden said, “We’re all faced with budget cuts, and people are screaming for additional service levels.”

Earlier this year, San Clemente abolished its police force and contracted with the Sheriff’s Department to save money. Some cities may be unwilling to yield local control and others may have special circumstances making it unrealistic to contract police services. But all must see if they can cut duplication and costs.