City of Ottawa and Ottawa Police present the new H135 police helicopter

As issued by the City of Ottawa

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, July 30, 2024   1:30 pm

(Ottawa)—The City of Ottawa and the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) welcomed media to present the new provincially-funded H135 police helicopter at a special event at the Rockcliffe Airport this morning.

The police helicopter will be used to keep Ottawa roadways safe from organized auto theft, street racing and impaired driving. It will also be used for general frontline patrol, serious offences (e.g. active shooter incident) and missing persons searches.

The helicopter’s maintenance will be under a contract and paid for by the Province. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) will provide both the pilots and ground crew and there will be OPS Tactical Flight Officers paid for and trained by the OPP. The helicopter will be able to assist other police jurisdictions within eastern Ontario with major incidents.

Quotes

“As the Mayor of Ottawa, I am grateful to the Ontario Government for investing in the safety of our residents and communities. Ottawa’s population has exceeded one million and is spread across urban, suburban, and expansive rural areas. This dedicated police helicopter will transform our ability to help combat crime across Ottawa's vast area. From downtown streets to the rural communities with over 1,000 farms and 26 unique villages, our helicopter will provide crucial aerial support to deter vehicle theft and other crimes.”

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe

“We are deeply grateful to the province for this generous donation and to the Solicitor General for their unwavering support. This helicopter is a game-changer for our operational capabilities to support search and rescue operations. Whether it’s a major event downtown or an emergency in a suburban area, we will be able to get there faster thanks to the strong partnership we have with the OPP.”

Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs

“Our government is making critical investments to ensure Ontario’s police services have the tools and resources they need to keep their communities safe,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “This police helicopter will be critical to helping Ottawa Police and the city of Ottawa crack down on auto thefts, carjackings and street racing while improving response times to address other serious crimes.”

Ontario’s Solicitor General, Michael Kerzner

“Expansion of OPP Aviation Services and the Joint Air Support Unit marks a new era in collaboration with our law enforcement partners. Air support remains a critical tool in locating vulnerable missing persons, pursuing and apprehending offenders and disrupting serious crimes. The OPP and the multi-jurisdictional air support it will provide will go a long way towards enhancing safety in our communities.”

Ontario Provincial Police Acting Commissioner, Kari Dart

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The video of the announcement is available on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYhJ_HJjOIY

CONTACT:   
Media Relations Office, Ottawa Police Service
Tel: 613-236-1222, ext.  5366
@OttawaPolice 
facebook.com/OttawaPoliceService
instagram.com/ottawapolice
 

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