Have your say on Winnipeg's police helicopter

The Winnipeg Police Service wants to know what you think of thehelicopterand isconducting a survey to find out.

The survey kicks off Wednesday.

Residents will be called at random, in all areas within the City of Winnipeg. The survey is expected to take less that 15 minutes to finish, a news release says.

There is also asurvey online, which closesonNov. 21.

The police force issued a request for proposalsto review their flight operations program in March.On July 12, MNP was awarded a contract to complete it.

Air1, the name of the police chopper, has become a common sight in the skies over the city, and the WPS haspraised its valuenumerous times since it first took flight in 2011. However, its originaloperating cost rosefrom $1.2 million yearly to $1.8 million in 2015, and the city recently replaced thechopper'sinfrared camerato the tune of $560,000.

The province was set to launch anindependent review in 2016, but a change in funding the following year cancelled that review, said police.

The police servicehadpromised to conduct its ownindependent assessmentto find out whetherthe cost of maintaining and flying Air1is worth the price, as well as to see whether it fits the city's strategic plans.

With files from Bartley Kives

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