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Every so often, we get e-mails in the middle of the night asking why an LAPD helicopter is circling above and shining a light down on their street. If you've lived here long enough, we all know this is a common experience. After all, the LAPD, who boasts that they have the "largest municipal airborne law enforcement operation in the world," has 17 helicopters and one twin engine plane (unconfirmed, but we heard they may actually have just bought a new helicopter, making that 18).
With that said, helicopter noise is an ubiquitous aural sensation that's here to stay. So if a helicopter is circling around your home or work for a good period of time, they are happy to take your call at 213-485-2600 and let you know.
Of course, it would be much more efficient if they just used Twitter or some broadcast method to inform the public when one is circling for ten or more minutes. And it's good time for that considering Captain James Miller from the Van Nuys Division just took over the Air Support Division and that the City Council this week mandated departments to look into using Twitter. In fact, one of the reasons the LA Fire Department alerts the public when their helicopters are being used for a hoist or lost hiker search is to avoid a mass of phone calls asking why one is circling above their home. And it works.
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This is awesome! Thanks!
I had one last night a block away and another two weeks ago across the street.
I didn't get the cause of the one from last night but the previous one was awesome because my neighbors were shooting fireworks off. It was sweet too when the copter flashed the light down right when they shot another into the air. These were pro, high in the air, fireworks so it was eventful.
"Run, run, run from the ghettobird." -- Ice Cube
We have them nightly in Highland Park, but a few weeks ago we literally had one circling around out house shining the light into the backyard... Quite disturbing.
Face it, these things are overused and cause noise pollution. In this tough economic climate, they should be grounding these things for everything but man hunts and violent crimes.
I'm seen air support called in when the officer was doing nothing but writing a traffic ticket. WTF is that? Chopper fuel is expensive and the city is broke.
Plus, I'm sick to fucking death of hearing them! Overkill!
Geez Ben! I love the sound of a ghetto-bird at 3 AM on a week-night!
I will sometimes fire up a fattie and groove on the sounds of leaf blowers and helicopters. Totally la dolce vita!
Wow…
This is awesome you have no idea how many times my girlfriend asks me "why do you think that helicopter is there?" and now we could finally answer that question.
I'm sitting around waiting for one to start circling to call the Ghetto Bird Hotline!
Thanks Zach and LAist!
http://schott.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/03/ghetto-bird-hotline/
Nice!
I called that number last night (living in Los Feliz lately there are always copters over my house) anyway, a very grumpy man told me that is NOT the number to call and to call my local station. V. Grumpy.
Considering I've been calling the number for over six months now, it is the right one. Maybe we caused their phone to ring off the hook, but there is a solution to that:)
I just called too and the guy was very grumpy.
when i asked why there is a helicopter over my neighborhood (i gave him exact cross streets, the bird's light was in my window), the guy said "because they're working a call"
I had one shine in my window once. Weird thing to wake up to.
Does it still qualify as a ghetto bird when it flies over the Hollywood hills?