MISSION VIEJO : Police Helicopter Pact to Be Negotiated
The City Council agreed to let City Manager Fred Sorsabal negotiate for police helicopter service with a new contractor this week.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will help form a regional group for joint air support, and the council was advised by city officials to join the newly created joint powers agency.
The county, Huntington Beach and Costa Mesa have become part of the organization, called Airborne Law Enforcement Services. Newport Beach is also considering becoming part of the agency.
Under the new contract, Mission Viejo would be billed each time the helicopter is called. The rate will be $120 per call with no time limit on how long the helicopter is used.
Sorsabal is negotiating the pact with the joint powers agency. The only issue left unsettled is liability for midair collisions.
“We basically don’t want to be responsible for plane crashes,” Sorsabal said. “Several other cities have a problem with this, too.”
Sorsabal said he expects the issue to be settled soon.
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