Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - June 29, 2012, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE A10 A 10 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2012 WINNIPEG winnipegfreepress. com . MEMBER OF THE GAUTHIER AUTO GROUP . MEMBER OF T HE G A U THIER AUTO GROUP . M EMBER O F T HE GA U THIER AUTO GROUP . Visit us at www. gauthierchrysler. com 1375 REGENT AVENUE OPEN MON. & TUES. 9 AM- 9 PM WED.- SAT. 9 AM - 6 PM * All prices plus freight ($ 1595) taxes and fees. 4.99% APR, 96 mo. term. 661- 8999 LOCAL OR L O NG DISTANCE 1- 877- 585- 8329 . M EMBER OF THE GAUTHIER A UTO GROUP . MEMBER OF T HE G A U THIER A U TO GRO UP . MEMBER O F T HE G A U THIER AUTO GROUP . MEMBER OF THE GAUTHIER AU TO G ROUP . M EMBER O F T HE G A U THIER AUTO GROUP . MEMBER O F THE G AUTHIER A U TO GROUP . M EMBER OF T HE GA U THIER AUTO GROUP . MEMBER O F THE G A UTHIER A U TO GROUP MEMBER OF THE GAUTHIER AUTO GROUP . MEMBER O F T HE G A U THIER AUTO G ROUP . M EMBER O F T HE GA U THIER AUT O G ROUP . 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Auto, A/ C 4.7 V8, 6 Speed, Auto, Remote keyless entry, cruise, bright grill bumper, 17" chrome clad wheels REFRESHMENTSREFRESHMENTS AV A N $ 36 , 998 * OR $ 216 * B/ W $ 15 , 998 * O R $ 93 * B/ W $ 18 , 998 * OR $ 111 * B/ W $ 2 5 , 998 * OR $ 1 5 2 * B/ W I T'S getting easier for Winnipeggers to keep an eye on the police helicopter that keeps an eye on Winnipeg. Videos of arrests involving the helicopter were launched on YouTube on Thursday at http:// www. youtube. com/ watch? v= J- XglQ5i3XA . This is the second time police have released such videos. " Our plan is to release videos of interest on a regular basis," said Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen. Police said Thursday a dedicated website outlining the helicopter's activities is under consideration. " The ideal at the end of the day would be having a specific website, everybody can go to it, see everything about the helicopter, we update it all the time. That's what we're moving toward," said police Chief Keith McCaskill, who was at a press conference outlining the aircraft's activities. He said the police helicopter had a successful first year of operation despite engine problems that kept it grounded for a total of 27 days last year. On Thursday, the police service released its report on the helicopter's first year of operation. It shows the aircraft attended 1,780 incidents between February and December 2011, including 189 break- and- enters, 135 reports of a suspicious person and 109 traffic stops. The report said the helicopter's presence was " essential" to the outcome of several calls and helped lead to 127 arrests. The aircraft flew a total of 976.5 hours in its first year but was grounded for a total of 18 days due to weather and 27 days due to unscheduled maintenance. Insp. Mike Herman said the helicopter costs an average of about $ 35,000 a month for items such as fuel and insurance, not including officers' salaries. The report said the helicopter's engine oil needed to be flushed due to contamination last March, and the engine was swapped the following month and removed and reinstalled in July. In September, the engine was swapped again due to metal contamination, removed and reinstalled. Air1 flew just 48.8 hours in March 2011 and 47.5 hours in July 2011. The monthly average in 2011 was 81.3 flight hours. Police data show Air1 was involved in two of 29 pursuits in 2011. In 27 other cases, the helicopter was not involved, including five instances where the duration of the pursuit was brief, six cases where Air1 was grounded and 13 instances when it was off- duty. The report said the presence of Air1 was recognized as an " operational success" and helped in arrests including the apprehension of a man who fled with a gun and a man involved in a downtown carjacking. " Anecdotal reports throughout the year confirm that the attendance of Air1 can indirectly influence criminal activity - essentially where the presence of the helicopter was perceived to prevent or suppress crime - although crime prevention is impossible to measure," the report said. Previously released Winnipeg Police Service data show the aircraft spent more time on the ground than in the air in early 2012 due to maintenance issues and a pilot shortage. The helicopter flew an average of 43.1 hours a month between January and March 2012, down from an average of 75.8 hours a month in the same period last year. Colin Craig, director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation for Manitoba, said it would be helpful if the report compared Winnipeg's police chopper with those in use in other cities. gabrielle. giroday@ freepress. mb. ca jen. skerritt@ freepress. mb. ca WINNIPEGGERS should find out today what the city has in store for seven of its financially troubled golf courses, as a long- awaited list of recommendations is due to see the light of day. In 2011, the city issued an expression- of- interest call for the Canoe Club, Crescent Drive, Windsor Park, Harbour View, John Blumberg, Kildonan Park and Tuxedo golf courses, soliciting proposals to purchase, redevelop or take over the leases of the city- owned properties. Some Winnipeggers cried foul, arguing the city was secretly trying to sell green space. Mayor Sam Katz countered the public would have a chance to peruse any recommendations that came forward. After repeated delays, a report containing those recommendations will be published today, said Katz, who declined to say which golf courses, if any, are facing potential sale. " It would be my pleasure to share that with you. It'll be in the report on Friday," the mayor said earlier this week. He has repeatedly said the city will hold public consultations about the report. Only two or three golf courses face sales, St. James Coun. Scott Fielding said this spring. A two- thirds majority of council - 11 of 16 members - is required to sell any green space. As a result, it will not be easy for council to pass an unpopular sale recommendation. New proposal for parcel THE Chinatown Development Corp. is taking another crack at demolishing the Coronation Block, the 139- year- old King Street structure better known as the Shanghai Restaurant building. In 2010, the non- profit corporation sought permission to demolish the now- vacant building to operate a surface parking lot. The city refused to allow the demolition without a plan to build a new residential structure on the downtown plot. Now, the Chinatown Development Corp. is back with a demolition request, this time offering to maintain the site as a vacant, landscaped lot, with sod and some form of fencing around it, according to a report that will go before council's property committee on Tuesday. The landscaping must be done immediately after demolition, the city contends. Prime plot valued at $ 2.5M WINNIPEG will consider selling a prime plot of riverfront land in West St. Paul for $ 2.5 million. On Thursday, the city released a report that recommends Winnipeg sell North Perimeter Park, an 18- hectare parcel the city has owned since 1971, to Waterside Development Corp. An official with Waterside declined to elaborate on plans for the property. Last year, city council voted for a plan to market and sell the land, located on Main Street just south of the Perimeter Highway interchange. Councillors said the deal would net " serious money," as the land is worth more due to the water- and- sewer deal with West St. Paul. Last December, council gave chief administrative officer Phil Sheegl authority to finalize a service- sharing agreement with West St. Paul. City eyes derelict property TIME is almost up for a Redwood Avenue homeowner. The city wants to issue a derelictbuilding certificate for 848 Redwood Ave. and take title to the property unless the owner complies with Winnipeg bylaws. An administrative report said the owner was convicted in provincial court for violations in November 2010 and the property has still not been bought into compliance. During an inspection in May, city officials found the home is improperly boarded and is still in derelict condition. Council's property committee will consider the recommendation at a meeting Tuesday. bartley. kives@ freepress. mb. ca jen. skerritt@ freepress. mb. ca Report ready on future of city- owned golf courses CITY HALL Roundup By Bartley Kives and Jen Skerritt Police chopper a YouTube star Cops posting videos of arrests involving Air1 By Gabrielle Giroday and Jen Skerritt TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES Const. Nick Paulet ( left) and pilot Renee Brindeau fly Air1 over the city last year. JOE. BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES City- owned golf courses await fate. A_ 12_ Jun- 29- 12_ FP_ 01. indd A10 6/ 28/ 12 9: 12: 16 PM ;