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Santa Monica Police Department Santa Monica Police Department Policy Manual Obtaining Air Support 419.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The use of a police helicopter can be invaluable in certain situations. This policy specifies potential situations where the use of a helicopter may be requested and the responsibilities for making a request. 419.2 REQUEST FOR HELICOPTER ASSISTANCE If a supervisor or officer in charge of an incident determines that the use of a helicopter would be beneficial, a request to obtain helicopter assistance may be made. 419.2.1 REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE FROM ANOTHER AGENCY After consideration and approval of the request for a helicopter, the Public Safety Dispatcher or Watch Commander (or his/her designee), will call the closest agency having helicopter support available. The Public Safety Dispatcher or Watch Commander (or his/her designee) will apprise that agency of the specific details of the incident prompting the request. When the helicopter arrives as requested, the Supervisor in charge of the scene, or his/her designee, will make contact with the helicopter crew by radio and provide all of the relevant information needed to fulfill the objective. 419.2.2 CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH AID MAY BE REQUESTED Police helicopters may be requested under any of the following conditions: (a) Whenever the safety of law enforcement personnel is in jeopardy and the presence of the helicopters may reduce such hazard (b) When the use of the helicopters will aid in the capture of a suspected fleeing felon whose continued fr eedom represents an ongoing threat to the community (c) When a helicopter is needed to locate a missing child, or other person who has gone missing or is lost and whose continued absence constitutes a serious health or safety hazard (d) Vehicle pursuits While it is recognized that the availability of helicopter support will generally provide valuable assistance to ground personnel, the presence of a helicopter will rarely replace the need for officers on the ground. Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2017/11/28, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Santa Monica Police Department Obtaining Air Support - 1 Policy 419