Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of Requirements for the Degree of
Master of Science in Administration
(Concentration in Public Administration)
by
Lt. Mark Cherney
Collier County Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit

Helicopters have played a role in law enforcement since 1948. Purchase and operation of a law enforcement helicopter is not only political but costly as well. Across the United States, aviation units have been popping up at unprecedented rates during the past four years. Technological advancements in specialized equipment and the availability of military surplus helicopters at little or no cost are permitting more agencies to fight crime from above.
 
It has been shown that law enforcement helicopters do affect crime rates within communities. To what degree can be disputed. What cannot be disputed, however, is the cost of purchase and operation. Initial acquisition, outfitting/retrofitting, training and operation all come at a cost. Specialized equipment, such as tactical radios, searchlights, infrared cameras and night vision goggles, are all costly items for any law enforcement agency, especially smaller ones. 

This research shows what a law enforcement agency can expect to spend on the purchase and operation of a helicopter, many of the benefits of a law enforcement helicopter, and how acquisition and operation of a military surplus Bell OH-58 helicopter can be more cost effective than operating a commercial Bell Jet Ranger. While there exists a magnitude of options and configurations available for helicopters, I focused on the mainstream equipment one would likely find on board.

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