By Robyn Wuth
A DESPERATE disease requires a dangerous remedy.
But how desperate?
Desperate enough to send our police up in a flying tin can?
Because that's what the council-preferred choice of police helicopter, the Robinson R44, has been called.
You might think it's harsh, but consider the Griffin Helicopter accident database which lists 86 fatal accidents between July 1993 and June 2010 from a total of 296 incidents involving the Robinson R44.
As one of my favourite police officers in all the world said: "Police chopper can ride alone, I ain't going in it ... "
Do you blame him?
The chopper has been branded a death trap by other officers who refuse to fly in it.
A police source told media yesterday that no officers are willing to crew the petrol-engined R44 which Mayor Ron Clarke favours because it is much cheaper to run.
"It's known in the industry as the Widowmaker, and no police on the Gold Coast would be willing to fly in one for the kind of work it would have to do," the source said.
"While it may cost half as much to run as a gas turbine chopper such as a Squirrel, if the engine in an R44 fails the machine will fall like a rock.
"It is simply not suited to the kind of work needed in police operations, like sustained hovering."
To be fair, it's not Cr Clarke's fault.
I can't believe I just said that but it's true. I know, I'm as shocked about it as you are but it's really not council's fault.
They're paying with our money, are you sure you want him to give in to pressure and up the ante?
It's Anna Bligh's fault. And Neil Roberts. In fact the entire ALP who won't give us enough police and who won't pay for a police helicopter.
Fact is, the $500,000 the council has put up for this trial is a great idea and as the mayor says, if it saves one life, then it's worth it.
But no more of my money, please. As a ratepayer, I can't help but resent the fact that my rates are going toward a helicopter.
Isn't this some kind of double-dipping?
God knows, local government have enough on their plate. Hell, we don't even have a footpath going past our house and now we're paying for a police eye in the sky?
Law and order is NOT the responsibility of local government.
As a former student of Miami High, Anna Bligh, you're supposed to be looking after the Gold Coast.
Where's our pork-barrelling? (Get it? Cops? Pigs? Pork? Oh, never mind ... )
And, you, Campbell Newman?
Where the hell are you? Get on board man, would you please?
Aren't all you politicians on both sides of the political fence just the teeniest bit embarrassed that a local council is stepping in to provide the resources to keep the state's premier tourist destination safe?
The least you can do -- and I do mean the very least -- is match the council's offer.
What you should do is suck it up and pay for the thing yourself -- and not the Robinson R44.
If we're going to do this thing, let's do it properly. No shortcuts. No half-baked attempts at flying ham.
A proper police chopper -- you know, like the other "real" police have with all the bells and whistles.
And missiles, they need missiles. Nothing says law and order like a military assault weapon.
I've said it before and obviously I have to say it again because some people weren't paying attention ...
Let's give the police the tools they so desperately need to do the job.
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