High speed pursuits conducted by police have become a hazard to society. It is estimated that 350 people are killed each year in high speed pursuits and those killed are not always the suspect or the pursuing police officer. Too many times innocent civilians are killed or severely injured (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2006). There are four variables suggested by Alpert which make a pursuit hazardous. These variables are:

1. the greater number of vehicles, the greater chance of injuries;
2. involvement of other police agencies;
3. high speed pursuits increased the chances of injuries compared to a low speed pursuit; and,
4. chases conduced in residential areas resulted in more injuries than those conducted in nonresidential areas.

By using a police helicopter to assist in pursuing fleeing suspects, police can remove some if not all the variables which make a pursuit hazardous. Not only can a police helicopter make a pursuit safer, they also have a very high arrest rate when used in conjunction with ground units during a pursuit.

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