Un-Pilot Program Provides Orinda Police With New Helicopter
Representative Mark Andrews addresses the community after being told not to touch any buttons
In a surprising turn of events, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has gifted the Orinda Police Department an AH-64 Apache helicopter, one of the premier attack helicopters used by the US Army. This sophisticated military equipment, known for its 20MM Bushmaster chain gun and capacity to carry Hellfire missiles and unguided Zuni rockets, was previously used in Iraq and Afghanistan with impressive results. The helicopter, now fully restored to like-new condition, was delivered to Orinda, sparking mixed reactions among the local community and officials. A pilot and gunner flew the AH-64 from the Army's Fort Hunter Liggett in central California. They left it in the abandoned Phair's parking lot behind Orinda Motors, along with two large crates of ammunition and missiles. "We drove right when the soldiers hopped in a Humvee to return to their base. They handed us the keys and left. I was expecting it to have a fob, but it has keys. I guess this is an older model," stated Officer Carol Gomez. However, the delivery came without a pilot, trained mechanics, or an owner’s manual.
At an impromptu town hall meeting held in front of the abandoned helicopter, Representative Mark Andrews stated, "This helicopter sends a real message to the community that we are serious about crime." The first question in most of the community's minds was whether Moraga or Lafayette got one, too. "This is a pilot program. We will see if other communities will get this level of armament." Given that it was a pilot program, someone asked who would pilot this new gadget. Andrews answered, "I am sure there are some YouTube videos and video games that could help upskill our local police department to operate the Apache." Other people were concerned whether it was cultural misappropriation, referring to it as an Apache, to which Andrews did not provide an answer using words but seemed to nod his head in agreement while moving it from side to side.
Chief concerns among the community include the lack of expertise in operating such a complex machine and the logistics of securing the helicopter and its munitions. Currently, two officers are assigned to guard the helicopter and the crates, which has impacted the department's ability to respond to local calls for assistance. "We can't have some kids try to take this on a joyride as we figure out what to do with it," one officer noted, referencing past incidents with mobility scooters from a local Safeway.
The department's struggle to integrate military technology isn't new. In previous years, they received surplus Segways without manuals or chargers, which were stored after their batteries were depleted. This pattern of receiving advanced technology without the necessary support raises questions about the practicality and cost-effectiveness of such gifts.
The local community is divided over the presence of the Apache helicopter. Some residents suggest that the city should sell the helicopter and its armaments on eBay, with proceeds potentially funding more practical law enforcement equipment, such as chargers and manuals for the Segways that are in storage.
Orinda isn't alone in grappling with military surplus equipment. Nearby, Lafayette was gifted a Spruance-class destroyer, now docked in the Lafayette reservoir and repurposed for controlling the Canadian goose population. Moraga faced similar challenges when it received a Bradley Fighting Vehicle after the 9/11 tragedy, which proved impractical for daily police activities and uncomfortable for officers on long patrols. "After riding around it for a day, I was thrilled about the idea of getting back in my Ford Crown Victoria," stated Officer Brad Dorfman of the Moraga Police Department.
As cities nationwide continue to receive surplus military equipment, the debate over its appropriate use in civilian law enforcement remains contentious. For now, Orinda's Apache helicopter sits in the Phair's parking lot, a symbol of the complex relationship between local policing and military surplus programs.
Footnote:
Thanks to the Orinda Police Department for keeping us safe and having a sense of humor!