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Police copter flights end Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Members of Metro Air One's air support unit have their picture taken next to the helicopter before a decommissioning ceremony Friday in White City. Board members grounded the helicopter after insurance premiums proved too costly. Because of Sept. 11, Metro Air One lost its insurance, so the group's focus will change By MEG LANDERS Troubles with insurance in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks have grounded Metro Air One helicopter patrols. "We made the decision Tuesday morning," said Central Point Police Chief Mike Sweeny, a Metro Air One board member. "Sept. 11 made all aviation insurance underwriters rethink their potential for loss," he said. "The underwriter that was underwriting our policy said they would not renew." Since learning the news in the last month, board members have made inquiries to other insurance carriers. But they discovered that even if a company agreed to carry the contract, premium rates would triple. Metro Air One is a cooperative air support unit formed in 1997 by local police agencies to assist ground patrol. Herb Sutton, owner of Snowy Butte Helicopters, funds the $1.2 million aircraft and underwrites the $500-an-hour operating cost. The helicopter has been involved in 20 felony and 22 misdemeanor arrests, eight search-and-rescue operations and five reported fires and has made a total of 138 flights from July 2000 to June 2001. Cities that subscribed to the service include Ashland, Talent, Phoenix, Central Point, Shady Cove, Eagle Point and Butte Falls, as well as the Veterans Affairs Domiciliary in White City. "We really hate to see the program go away," said Phoenix Police Chief Bob Kershaw. "It's an unfortunate thing as a result of Sept. 11." Elimination of the helicopter patrols does not mean the end of Metro Air One, said Sweeny. "We've decided what we're going to do is try to turn a negative into a positive," he said. "And we're going to continue to meet." Sweeny said board members are looking into ways they can use Metro Air One as a genesis for cooperation and sharing among the area's police agencies. Under discussion is the development of an equipment pool to be shared among departments and the creation of police bicycle patrols. Sweeny said 15 people have been involved in the organization and training for Metro Air One over a number of years. "It's sad, but a lot of good was done. Lives were saved," he said. "We want people to know that just because we lost the helicopter doesn't mean we're going to stop doing good things with our interagency organization," he added. "We're a victim of Sept. 11, but we're not going to give up." Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.