How Do I Find Out Why There Were Police Helicopters in My Neighborhood?

Police use helicopters in many kinds of investigations.

Hearing the roar of a police helicopter flying over your home can be unnerving. Has there been a serious auto accident, a lost child, or are police looking for an escaped convict? Use some common resources to find out.

It's Public Record

Police incident reports are generally public record, but the way a police department disseminates public information varies from state to state and even by department. Most information needs to be approved by a supervisor before it's released, and if the helicopter search was part of an ongoing investigation, police may not release the information immediately.

Call and Ask

Call and ask--but don't call 911--that's strictly for emergencies. Most police departments have a nonemergency phone number posted on their website. An Internet quick search should get you the number. Once you're connected, ask to speak to the chief or the sergeant on duty. Identify yourself as a member of the public who has a question about an incident near your home. After regular hours and on weekends, most police departments will automatically transfer your call to a radio room or switchboard. You may have to leave a message and wait to be called back.

The Power of the Press

A good way to find out what the police are doing in your neighborhood is to call a newsroom. Every newspaper and television station has at least one staffer monitoring police scanners. If the cops have called in the choppers, it's likely an incident that reporters have been monitoring. If not, they'll be interested and will probably thank you for cluing them in to a big story. Find the phone number for the newsroom on the Internet or in the newspaper (usually on the inside front page) and ask for a police reporter or the city desk. If you don't get your question answered promptly, ask for an editor.

You Have a Right to Know

You have a right to know what police are doing in your neighborhood. If the police don't tell you and the media isn't able to answer your questions, you may have to file a request under the Freedom of Information Act. This could take time, however, so try calling the police and the newsroom again, and ask your city council or state representative for help.