Search over Princess last night

I live in Hermon Hill and they were buzzing over our heads at 10

Interesting. I've NEVER seen helicopters here at night. Do any government agencies even have such helicopters?

There are many government agencies that have such helicopters - here it's most likely the DEA. They were also flying around Mount Pleasant East/Green Cay area last night too. I thought it sounded like the USCG Dolphin helo but I wasn't sure why they were over land and not the water.

LOL. I thold my husband it's too late to make the Sunday paper, STX doesn't have a Monday paper, so we'll have to wait until Tuesday (if then) to find out what's going on, and then I said...no, someone on the "forum" will know! Come on guys, anybody?? They were so low and loud, I was actually getting nervous. No spotlights when they were in Est. St. John.

They or it was actually flying over the entire island. I think they were looking for illegal "plants" growing in gardens...@ least that's what I was told *-) Guess we'll have to wait until Monday's evening news to see.

Yes, I got nervous too. My husband had the front door open and I thought maybe someone escaped. I live where the mosque is and they flew toward the area of Pueblo, then reversed and came back with their search lights on. Then the flew over Queste Verde and into Christiansted area and started with the search lights again.

According to a story in today's St Croix Source the chopper activity was part of the on going police saturation patrols.

I've lived with this sort of thing while living in northern CA. Where helicopters circling overhead with search lights is a way of life. It can be very annoying. But it's also a very effective crime fighting tool. And a terrific way to provide support for officers on the ground.

Here is the news article: http://stcroixsource.com/content/news/local-news/2010/06/06/helicopters-aid-police-saturated-patrols

This was in the Daily News this AM

Unfortunately, flying a helicopter over a crime infested area is a lot like turning the lights on and watching the cockroaches scatter. It doesn't permanently get rid of them.

And helicopters are very expensive to buy and operate. Police copters cost upwards of $3 million fully equipped. Flying costs range from $200 to $400 per hour. You could deploy quite a few more squad cars for that price. Or you could buy a police drone with imaging equipment for around $50,000 (yes, they have them).

But I get it: it makes the police look like they're doing something.

guess i slept through it all

LOL, the article mentions "backing up regular patrols." I've never seen a "regular patrol" in my neighborhood.

Sean