A study commissioned by NASA and conducted by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s (JPL) Space Technology Applications Office confirmed the study and report findings as follows:
*The number of Part 1 Property Crimes is reduced when an LAPD helicopter is overhead.
*The number of arrests associated with radio calls is three times higher with the involvement of LAPD aircrews.
*The citizens of Los Angeles accept helicopter patrols as a necessary part of the City’s police system and strongly favor their continuation.
*Department ground based officers universally support a strong airborne law enforcement program within the department.
In 2012: LAPD helicopters helped set up more than 1,500 perimeters, "when a helicopter positions ground officers to surround a crime scene."
In 2011: the year with the most recent stats, helicopters "'assisted' [i.e., provided ground officers with info] in one out of seven felony arrests."
Whenever the DOJ has reasonable cause to believe such violations have occurred, they may obtain a court order to eliminate the pattern or practice.
In making these allegations, the DOJ recognized that the overwhelming majority of Los Angeles police officers perform their difficult jobs in a lawful manner. The City denied the allegations in the DOJ complaint and entered into negotiations with DOJ. However, to avoid potentially divisive and costly litigation and to promote the best available practices and procedures for the Department, the City entered into the Civil Rights Consent Decree.
The Court formally entered the Consent Decree into law on June 15, 2001. In the upcoming month, Department employees can expect to receive Consent Decree-related orders, notices, and training, articulating new operational policies and procedures.