Peel Regional Police (PRP) has secured funding through the Ontario Government to procure a helicopter for our service. This will significantly enhance our police response and greatly assist our officers in combating crime and ensure the safety of our community.
Since December 2023, PRP has been working with the Ministry of Solicitor General to lead and develop a Joint Air Support Unit (JASU) that would secure new helicopters for the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS), Ottawa Police Service (OPS), and Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS).
Today (July 29), we were pleased to host Premier Ford and the Government of Ontario in Peel to make the funding announcement. The JASU funding will include over $10 million for PRP to acquire a helicopter and over $2 million annually for operational costs for the next five years.
The addition of a helicopter will significantly assist PRP’s operations through regular patrols, enhance suspect and vehicle pursuits and apprehensions, help with search efforts for missing persons, increase road safety enforcement especially as it pertains to street racing and stunt driving, and improve overall public safety.
In collaboration with the Region of Peel, we are spearheading the procurement process to secure the helicopters on behalf of our municipal partner agencies.
We would like to express our gratitude to the Provincial Government for this investment and their ongoing support of policing and community safety. The addition of a helicopter marks a significant step forward in modernizing policing in Peel Region, as we continue to aspire to be the most progressive, innovative, and inclusive police service.
To learn more, please see the news release here: https://x.com/PeelPolice/status/1817934487184945606