CMPD helicopters get $1.3 million in upgrades

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Two Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department choppers got more than $1 million in upgrades, officials said.

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One upgrade is a new camera system that features a high-sensitivity color camera and a high-definition infrared camera.

A new searchlight has the capability to light up an entire football field or to focus on a single vehicle.

“It’s the big picture,” said Josh Baswell, a CMPD tactical flight officer. "The officers on the ground, the K-9 and us. We can all get together and work as a team to get the suspect or find the missing person or find whoever we’re looking for.”

The Aviation Unit responded to nearly 1,900 calls.

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Cox Media Group