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Winnipeg's first police helicopter won't take to the skies before October, police Chief Keith McCaskill said Friday as the city confirmed the awarding of a $3.49-million contract to purchase the aircraft.

KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Justice Minister Andrew Swan (from left), police Chief Keith McCaskill and Mayor Sam Katz announce the awarding of the helicopter contract Friday to Eurocopter Canada Ltd.

The Winnipeg Police Service hoped to have a Eurocopter Canada E-120B Colibri up in the air in time to patrol the city during the summer, when the most serious street crimes tend to occur.

But it will take six months for the slightly used, French-made aircraft to be outfitted in Fort Erie, Ont., for police work and then shipped to Winnipeg, McCaskill said.

Three police officers must also be trained to operate on-board equipment such as the aircraft's spotlight, thermal-imaging camera, police radios, public address system and GPS mapping system.

Two civilian pilots must also be hired, McCaskill said.

"The sooner we can get it in the air, the better," said the chief, explaining the city has already laid a tremendous amount of groundwork for the aircraft in a short period of time.

"Last year at this time, we had no concept this would occur."

The City of Winnipeg is covering the cost of acquiring the helicopter and its on-board equipment. The province has agreed to cover the $1.3-million annual cost of operating the vehicle, which is intended to allow police to more efficiently marshal resources on the ground during incidents such as foot chases.

The helicopter may also be used to apprehend impaired drivers and street racers, search for lost children and Alzheimer's patients, manage crowds, escort VIPs and serve as a visual deterrent against crime, according to an internal police report obtained by the Free Press under Freedom of Information legislation.

That same report touted Manitoba Public Insurance as a potential sponsor. But the city is still looking for a corporate sponsor for the aircraft, Mayor Sam Katz said Friday.

Justice Minister Andrew Swan, meanwhile, joked the province is already sponsoring the helicopter to the tune of $1.3 million a year.

Earlier this year, Katz and Swan were at loggerheads over operating funding for the chopper. A handful of city councillors also questioned the need for the aircraft, given the absence of a report justifying the purchase.

That debate has subsided, as even mayoral candidate Judy Wasylycia-Leis said she won't second-guess the decision to buy a police helicopter.

But on Friday, she said she's concerned about the timing of its first flight, which may occur weeks or days before the Oct. 27 civic election.

"It's interesting timing," she said at an event to introduce Kevin Chief, the man she wants to be her successor as NDP MP for Winnipeg North. "There are a lot things the mayor is doing right now that evoke the comment, 'interesting timing.'

"Suddenly, he's available to go on regular radio shows. Suddenly, he's showing up at events and suddenly the helicopter is in the air at around the time of the election.

"It tells me he knows he's got a real challenge with me and he's trying to make up for lost ground."

Wasylycia-Leis said while she has questions about how the decision to purchase a helicopter was made, she believes it's needed to enhance safety.

"We're not going to speak against something that has been decided," Wasylycia-Leis said. "I think a lot of the public wanted more information than they actually got, but my understanding is the helicopter will provide an important service for Winnipeg.

"I'm certainly not going to revisit history and question that decision."

bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca bruce.owen@freepress.mb.ca