The LAPD has the country's largest fleet of helicopters with 17, with a total cost of nearly $20 million a year. KPCC's Erika Aguilar spent time learning how the fleet operates, and looked through LAPD statistics to find out how effective the helicopters are in fighting crime. Read more here.
RELATED: See part 1 of Erika Aguilar's series on police helicopters in Los Angeles
RELATED: See part 2 of Erika Aguilar's series on police helicopters in Los Angeles
RELATED: View a slideshow of the LAPD's helicopter fleet on AudioVision