Mapping Tool Assists Police Helicopters
The St. Louis Metro police Air Support Unit has purchased three units, costing around $100,000 in total, to arm its helicopters with mapping technology designed by Oxnard, Calif.-based Aero computers President Mark Gassaway to improve safety, hasten response times, and provide important data in emergencies.
Traditionally, police in choppers had to look through a map book to locate streets and orient themselves. The new system allows the pilot to enter an address and get instant directions as well as an estimated time of arrival.
“It’s a tremendous benefit to the unit,” said St. Louis County police Sgt. Derek Dunmire, who commands the regional unit. “In the past, we could waste two minutes trying to figure out where we are and where we need to go.”
The same technology is being used by the New York and Los Angeles police departments and the California Highway Patrol. Aero computers donated three units to St. Louis so it could equip the rest of its fleet.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (03/17/06) P. C8; Ratcliffe, Heather .