Bye-bye cop choppers

>>

by George Maddux

 The controversial MUC Police helicopter project, launched in Sept. 1997, has recently been grounded for good, following its temporary suspension last October for further study. The chopper was shelved as a result of requests by various municipalities to suspend the service, in response to citizens' noise complaints. Other sources cite financial reasons for the decision. The helicopter, rented from the RCMP, cost the squad $600 an hour plus the pilot's salary. Calgary, the first Canadian city to use a police chopper, is still proudly hovering over crime, while Toronto is currently debating whether to keep their Air Support pilot project running.

 In other police news, MUC Police Brotherhood chief Alain Simoneau is sad to be stepping down for health reasons, but according to one Brotherhood member, Simoneau is a victim of a putsch. "The collective agreement was the last thing that pushed him over the edge," claims the insider. "He's seen as more of a moderate, and they wanted someone more radical. They want someone out there harping all the time, talking about why community policing doesn't work and how it makes citizens wait longer." Georges Painchaud is the only candidate so far to replace Simoneau, whose successor will be announced at the end of March.