Police to use helicopters in anti-crime campaign

MANILA, Philippines -  The Philippine National Police (PNP) will now employ helicopters with night-flying capability to boost their anti-crime efforts particularly in Metro Manila.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said the tactical capability of the aircraft would translate to greater operational advantage in anti-criminality, public safety and law enforcement missions.

“The sky police will be a picture of the services that the PNP will give,” said Robredo.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said the new police choppers will provide operational command and control functions to coordinate ground units in police operations, particularly during mobile pursuit situations.

Robredo formally launched yesterday the Sky Police during simple ceremonies at PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.

The DILG chief said the PNP has operationalized tactical air support for ground operations to boost the crime-fighting capability of police units.

He said the primary mission of the Sky Police is to conduct aerial anti-crime and surveillance patrols in Metro Manila and nearby regions in support of ground operations.

“The Sky Police will conduct aerial patrols as well as monitor incidents and to provide surveillance, security and real time information to the PNP ground units operating in Metro Manila and its neighboring regions,” Robredo said.

The Sky Police is manned by members of the Air Unit of the PNP Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) who, while on aerial patrol duty, will report to two PNP units based at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig and at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

It will be under the direct operational control of the National Operations Center (NOC) of the PNP and the Regional Tactical Operations and Intelligence Center (RTOIC) of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

Both NOC and RTOIC will provide command and control to the Sky Police.

Three R-44 “Raven” aircraft, officially commissioned as police helicopters in 2010, will be the workhorses of the Sky Police.

The three US-made Robinson R44 Raven II police helicopters worth P104.9 million were acquired by the PNP under its 2008 capability enhancement program.

Other standard equipment include a 500-watt xenon searchlight and infrared imaging system, monitor, and dual audio controller for police radios.

“These aircraft form part of the fleet of rotary-wing aircraft of the air unit of the PNP-SAF. As a multi-role aircraft, the police choppers can also provide tactical support for fire suppression, aerial reconnaissance and supply airlift for ground troops in field operations,” Cruz said.

The Raven police helicopter is capable of flying for three hours on a standard fuel load and at a cruising speed of 130 mph and range of 300 miles. – With Non Alquitran