City wants IMPD in the air in time for 2012 Super Bowl

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - IMPD says it's bringing back one crime-fighting tool just months after grounding four of them. The department is putting one of its helicopters back in the air after money-matters stopped the services six months ago.

Meanwhile, the other three choppers will be sold.

Public Safety Director Frank Straub said it could be the last quarter of the year before the department could fly the helicopter.

"What I really want is it up and running for 2011, and in service for the Super Bowl," said Straub

But there is some work between now and then. Three of the helicopters need to be sold before chopper number four takes to the sky.

"We will then run the fleet, or the one helicopter, through the money realized from the sale of the others," said Straub.

In 2008, it took a whopping one million dollars to operate all four helicopters. In 2009, it took $700,000.

But with the city facing budget cuts, the money just wasn't there for 2010.

For the past six months, IMPD has been getting air support from the state police. It's a state police chopper flying over Marion County with one of IMPD's officers inside.

But Straub says a city the size of Indianapolis needs an aviation unit of its own, a helicopter helps the department find missing people and is the eyes in situations like standoffs and fires.