wahyinghung
02-28-2009, 01:41 PM
VANCOUVER — British Columbia's solicitor general on Saturday announced that the province will be putting a second helicopter into the sky to be at the disposal of Lower Mainland police forces in tracking down suspected criminals.
Purchased at a cost of $2.3 million, through an agreement between the provincial government and the Insurance Corporation of B.C., the Air 2 Eurocopter EC-120B will join Air 1, launched in 2006, in the service of 17 Lower Mainland municipalities.
The federal government has also contributed $700,000 for the new chopper.
“Our existing traffic safety helicopter has brought hundreds of high-speed pursuits, foot chases and even incidents involving illegal guns to safe conclusions,” Solicitor General John van Dongen said, in a news release.
He said no injuries or deaths have occurred during a high-speed chase involving Air 1.
He estimated that Air 2 will double the capacity to help police track and take down dangerous and reckless criminals.
© Copyright (c) The Province
Purchased at a cost of $2.3 million, through an agreement between the provincial government and the Insurance Corporation of B.C., the Air 2 Eurocopter EC-120B will join Air 1, launched in 2006, in the service of 17 Lower Mainland municipalities.
The federal government has also contributed $700,000 for the new chopper.
“Our existing traffic safety helicopter has brought hundreds of high-speed pursuits, foot chases and even incidents involving illegal guns to safe conclusions,” Solicitor General John van Dongen said, in a news release.
He said no injuries or deaths have occurred during a high-speed chase involving Air 1.
He estimated that Air 2 will double the capacity to help police track and take down dangerous and reckless criminals.
© Copyright (c) The Province