Five new police helicopters for Ontario
The Canadian province has announced that it will acquire five new police helicopters worth a combined CA$134 million (US$96.8 million)
The new aircraft include two new H135s for Ottawa and Toronto Police Services. Three more helicopters – type unspecified – will be procured for the Durham, Halton, and Peel Regional Police Services.
The government of Ontario stated that the rotorcraft would be used for a range of law enforcement operations, including “keeping highways and roadways safe from violent carjackings, auto theft, street racing, and impaired driving”.
As part of the announcement, the provincial government also stated that they would establish a new joint air support unit for Ottawa and Toronto.
“Air support is an extremely effective law enforcement and public safety tool that significantly enhances the capacity of the police to detect crime, disrupt criminal activity, safely apprehend offenders and assist vulnerable missing persons,” said Thomas Carrique, Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police.
The government of Ontario also announced that it would acquire another four planes for its Ornge air ambulance service in November 2023.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca was a Junior Editor at the Voyageur Group. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.