Being able to follow a car involved in a hit and run and intercept them when they stop without restoring to what could be a dangerous police chase.

Aerial surveillance has it's place.

Unfortunately standard practice for LAPD is to engage in a dangerous police chase along with the helicopter, not to simply follow with a helicopter.

They don't really use them for hit and run. How could they? Think about how fast that crime occurs and how much time will pass between that incident and vectoring a helicopter, which might be tied up on other work.

Less than 20% of hit and run cases are even solved in California (1). I'm sure the rate is even lower in a city like LA.

1. https://attorneyatlawmagazine.com/legal/opinion/dragged-and-...

> Aerial surveillance has it's place.

It does, but I would be very surprised if the LAPD knew its place or cared to keep it there to prevent it from wandering into places that are totally unnecessary and expensive invasions of our privacy.