Hours after Ottawa police halted their chase of an alleged car thief, Chief Eric Stubbs stood at the Rockcliffe Airport Tuesday in front of a helicopter — one he says would have made that pursuit easier and safer.
It’s a situation that plays out regularly, according to officials, with police weary of potentially deadly high-speed chases as stolen vehicles speed out of the city, across the border to the Montreal port and out of the country.
The organized crime element has also created a jurisdictional headache and a focus on the scope of the problem around Toronto.
That’s why, one day earlier, the province announced it was purchasing five police helicopters — although one of those helicopters will be designated for Ontario Provincial Police to use in Ottawa.
Barrhaven West Coun. David Hill is relieved that Ottawa’s issues haven’t been overlooked.
“Ottawa needs some love, and we’re seeing that,” Hill told CBC after Monday’s announcement, expressing concerns about the local “epidemic” of stunt driving and surge in thefts.
“It is unacceptable the current level of vehicle theft that we have in this city and we need to take action in order to curb that and so this is a positive step forward.”
‘Critical’ resource for searches, protests
Ontario Provincial Police Acting Commissioner Kari Dart called it a “monumentous” announcement that will see its police partners better equipped to handle ongoing issues.
“Air support is critical to the success of various police operations, such as locating stolen vehicles, pursuing and apprehending suspects, and finding vulnerable and missing persons to reunite them with the families and loved ones,” she said.
While the helicopter belongs to the OPP and will be flown by one of its members, someone from the Ottawa police will be in the passenger seat to provide local expertise and direction.
That position will be new and paid for through the provincial funding, Ottawa police confirmed.
“This helicopter will be owned and operated by the OPP, but make no mistake — make no mistake — keeping the people of Ottawa safe will be its priority,” said Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner at Tuesday’s event.
Stubbs said his department now uses drones for some of these tasks, a tool that’s far less expensive but also more limited.
Since a pilot on the ground has to see the drone at all times, he said there’s no flexibility to follow a suspect who speeds off.
As for whether competing jurisdictions will get in the way of a pursuit, MPP Lisa MacLeod said there is the possibility — when needed, during an emergency — to take the helicopter into neighbouring Gatineau, Que., and sort out who pays later.
Ottawa police won’t get bill
In their original budget, the province allocated $46 million to this project, and Ottawa was not included.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said adding Ottawa shows that the province understands the unique needs of a city as sprawling as the capital.
“There are rising challenges, particularly in the suburban parts of our city,” he said.
The budget has now nearly tripled, and not just because of the added helicopter.
Premier Doug Ford said the increase to $134 million because the province purchased the helicopters, rather than their original plan to lease them.
Michael Rothe, chief executive officer of Canadian Finance and Leasing Association, said the additional costs of the helicopters is worth it.
“Yes, it’s expensive, yes, we have limited resources, but this is an important issue,” Rothe said. “Think of it like it’s insurance for the country.”
Could be 12-to-18-month wait
That insurance won’t kick in immediately, though.
Police say that even with an expedited timeline, it will still be 12 to 18 months before the new helicopter is purchased and ready to scan Ottawa’s streets from the sky.
In the meantime, Stubbs said his teams are doing all they can to find and locate stolen vehicles — including by calling in backup early this morning to cut off the would-be car thief and apprehend them.
A 40-year-old man now faces six charges, police said.