“Ghetto bird” is slang for police helicopters patrolling low-income and minority neighborhoods. They can be used for tracking suspects or as a deterrent, but some argue they target minorities. Ghettos are regions where minorities live due to economic and social pressures, with limited upward mobility and access to resources. The term is a pun on helicopters and the idea that only artificial birds thrive in ghettos. Ghetto birds can be seen as oppressive and racially profiling, but police find them useful for law enforcement.
The slang term “ghetto bird” is used to describe police planes that patrol low-income and minority neighborhoods in urban regions. Ghetto birds can be used in active policing to track suspects and assist field officers, or they can be used as a form of deterrent, to remind citizens in the field that they are being watched. Some people object to the extensive use of the ghetto bird in urban settings, arguing that they are used to target racial, ethnic and political minorities, rather than being a legitimate law enforcement device.
A ghetto is a region where minorities are forced to live due to economic, legal and social pressures. Predominantly black neighborhoods in the United States are often used as an example of a ghetto, with a population feeling compelled to live in the neighborhood by anything from restrictive agreements to disapproval of residents in wealthier areas. Ghettos are often characterized by very limited upward mobility, poor living conditions, increased crime rates, and limited access to education, healthcare, fresh food, social services, and other things that can be widely available in other neighborhoods.
This slang term is a pun, referencing slang that refers to helicopters as birds and the idea that the only bird that can thrive in the ghetto is an artificial one. Helicopters are ideal for urban policing because they are very easy to fly and can be used in a variety of ways. A ghetto bird may sweep back and forth casually looking for signs of trouble, or it may track suspects, often with the use of searchlights. Ghetto birds can also hover very low which can cause noise pollution.
For residents of neighborhoods that are widely considered ghettos, ghetto birds are sometimes seen as oppressive and obnoxious. Noise pollution from low-flying aircraft is particularly galling, with citizens arguing that noise pollution of the level produced by a ghetto bird would not be considered acceptable in more affluent neighborhoods. The routine use of a ghetto bird for patrolling may also be perceived as racially or economically profiling, with the helicopter flying on the assumption that the neighborhood is riddled with crime due to the minority population, and therefore needs of intensive police patrols.
For the police, helicopters can be very useful tools for law enforcement. Officers on the ground appreciate using a police helicopter for backup, as the helicopter can quickly track suspects and provide assessments of the surrounding area. In routine patrolling, a helicopter can patrol a much larger area than a police officer on the ground, increasing police coverage in neighborhoods where crime rates are highest. However, the use of helicopters can sometimes undermine community policing initiatives by annoying residents.
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