University of Toronto Study

Study of the Impact of Police Helicopters on 
Criminal Behavior and Crime Clearance Rates

In 1999, a research study on police helicopters was performed by Maxine Renee Marz, an undergraduate criminology student at the University of Toronto, to determine whether following the implementation of the police helicopter in Calgary, there would be a decrease in the city's crime occurrence rates and an increase in its police clearance rates. Three specific crimes of flight (automotive thefts, robberies and break & enter offenses) were examined. 

Upon review of the data for 1990-1997, the results indicated that not only was there a noticeable decrease in the city's crime occurrence rates and an increase in the police clearance rates for those three crimes of flight, but when compared to Edmonton (the control city used for Calgary which does not have its own police helicopter) Calgary's crime statistics figures were overwhelming, particularly since Calgary's police force size had not been increased to the extent that Edmonton's had over the post reform period being examined. 

Therefore in view of these findings, police helicopter implementation in Calgary has produced the desired criminal deterrence while ensuring police efficacy.

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