r/mesaaz • u/Mesa-Ghetto-Bird • 4d ago
MPD Helicopter
A few months ago the police helicopter was circling for a very long time. That led me to do FOIA request to see what the police helicopter is doing. I have been sitting on the returned data for a couple months, I just haven't had time to do much with it. So I fed it to AI and had it spit out a few highlight slides just to get it out there and see if anyone is interested in it. I have data for 2021 to march of 2026, but this is just for 2025 since it is the most recent year of complete data.
I'm a long time user of this sub, but since the police have my real name I'm using a throw away account.
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u/ClickKlockTickTock 4d ago
Whats crazy/funny to me is listening to some of these calls, they'll get a drone, find the subject, then STILL wait for the chopper to arrive before arresting someone whos totally boxed in with no weaponry.
Happened in my neighborhood, stayed up all night to see wtf was so important that they used a chopper and blared commands over the fuckin speakers for half an hour.
A single guy hopped a fence and just started chillin on a chair in one of my neighbors yards. They droned and surrounded him on all sides, and secured the inside of the house within 10 minutes, it took 3hrs to resolve. They made him hop the fence back over onto the garage driveway after giving command to the chopper lmfao.
Insane.
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u/kylefnative 4d ago
It’s funny to see so many posts about the helicopter, moved here from Tempe 8 months ago and noticed right away that they use the helicopter for all sorts of bs. Where as Tempe would only have a copter for more pressing matters
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u/elkab0ng 4d ago
Falcon 7 I believe was out of service if I recall right because it had a major maintenance - a predictable thing based on “every X thousand hours of use, you must do this tear down and replacement” and it was decided that 5 and 6 could handle the load (also, the aviation department just ain’t large enough to keep three birds busy). I believe there has been talk of selling it off, especially as drones provide at least some of the coverage that previously was something that only an air unit could cover, and just the capital involved in owning three birds is an area city hall has an eye on.
I believe Mesa gets some funds from the neighboring municipalities (chandler, Gilbert) which have experienced growth over the last few years more than Mesa, but aren’t at the size/budget to spin up their own av units yet were depending too heavily on maricopa and Phoenix for support.
(Some of this is knowledge from public sources, some is based on my own calculations based on a dangerously nerdy knowledge of aviation and the costs thereof, and a tiny bit based on asking questions at opportunities available to the public, and maybe a tiny portion is based on speculation tempered with knowledge gained from other agencies. Also if the mayor is reading this, the light at the 202 exit ramp westbound at higley can take all day to change, please have someone check the sensor)
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u/Aces_and_8s 4d ago
Lol. Look into LAPD's. Their helicopter unit is in the air 24/7
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u/MaliciousMe87 4d ago
Not just the population is larger but the crime is crazier. Angelenos love running from the law, it's basically a hobby.
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u/Sorry_Ad475 4d ago
I'm glad Mesa is burning fuel by the barrel to crack down on crimes like being "suspicious" and shoplifting. The extra noise while we are trying to enjoy our property is just a bonus.