COLUMBUS – Columbus police officials say they are reviewing the flight pattern of a patrol helicopter that spelled out the department’s initials when viewed on a flight tracking application.
The helicopter went on several high-priority run early Saturday but in between “flew a pattern which spelled out ‘CPD’ when later viewed on a flight tracking application,” according to a statement released Saturday.
Officials said the flight, at normal altitude, took less than ten minutes, no calls for service were missed, and no additional fuel was used, but “even the appearance that officers were not operating within the mission of the Aviation Section is not acceptable.”
At least two city council members decried it as a “joyride.”
The helicopter took off for a regularly scheduled 1 1/2 hour patrol flight shortly after midnight Saturday and navigated throughout the city, responding to reports of a stabbing and an assault in progress, among other high-priority runs, division spokesman Sgt. James Fuqua said.
During the patrol the helicopter flew the pattern spelling out the division’s initials when viewed on the flight tracking application FlightAware.
Commander Robert Sagle, who oversees the division’s Aviation Section, is reviewing the incident, Fuqua said.