Durham Regional Police Service has unveiled its new police helicopter, Air4, an Airbus H125 that will provide aerial support to officers across Ajax and the rest of Durham Region.
The aircraft will be flown by the service's Combined Air Support Unit and will assist frontline officers during critical incidents, missing person searches, major investigations, emergency responses and proactive policing, according to a Durham Regional Police Service news release.
The release said Air4 is equipped with thermal imaging, day-and-night camera systems, real-time video transmission, a high-intensity searchlight and advanced situational awareness tools. It can fly for up to 4.5 hours and reach speeds of up to 250 km/h.
Funded through provincial partnership
The purchase was made possible through Ontario's investment in the Joint Air Support Unit, a partnership involving Durham Regional Police, Peel Regional Police, Halton Regional Police Service and Toronto Police Service. The province is funding the initiative to strengthen aviation resources across the Greater Toronto Area.
The provincial government said the helicopter will help crack down on car thieves, locate vulnerable missing persons and support frontline officers across Durham Region.
Today's unveiling of Air4 represents a significant investment in public safety and the future of policing in Durham Region. Air support has long played a valuable role in helping our officers protect the community, and Air4 enhances that capability through advanced technology, improved operational flexibility and strengthened regional partnerships. – Chief Peter Moreira, Durham Regional Police Service, in the release
Moreira said the aircraft and the regional air support model behind it would not have been possible without the province's commitment to community safety, adding that JASU partners are working together to ensure specialized aviation resources are available across the GTA and beyond.
Staffing and coverage
The Combined Air Support Unit will be staffed by civilian pilots and Tactical Flight Officers. Eight full-time Tactical Flight Officers, supported by part-time officers, will work alongside experienced aviation professionals to keep the aircraft ready to respond.
DRPS is also working with JASU partners to establish a coordinated 24-hour, seven-day-a-week coverage model across the Greater Toronto Area.
The Airbus H125 is one of the most widely used law enforcement helicopters in the world, the release noted. Air4 joins Air1, the service's Remotely Piloted Aircraft System Program and the emerging Drone as First Responder Program under the Combined Air Support Unit.
For Ajax residents, the new aircraft means enhanced support for local officers during searches, pursuits and emergencies, with aerial intelligence available to ground units throughout the town.
