But former Peoria Police Chief Art Miller said this is precisely why taxpayer dollars should not be spent on purchasing helicopters for the city.

Miller, who is running for mayor in the 2026 election as a Mesquite District resident, said he doesn’t see police helicopters as a major law enforcement tool specifically for the city, especially when, previous to the first purchase, Peoria had access to Phoenix, Maricopa County and Mesa helicopters.

A 2023 public record request by Peoria Independent from Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office revealed the agency responded to only seven calls of service from Peoria in the previous year-and-a-half.

Helicopters are good for search and rescue, but drones are more efficient and cost effective, Miller said.

“Helicopters are outdated,” he said. “Drones, they are the way to go. Drones can be operational in minutes. And for under $1 million you could get full drone deployment over the whole city.”

The Real-Time Crime Center has been years in the making.

As Peoria’s former chief of police, in 2023, I proposed this system, which was initially approved by the mayor and council.

However, after the project was set in motion, the new mayor backtracked, claiming he never approved it. Behind closed doors, he attempted to push a more expensive and less effective alternative.

Fast forward to today — Peoria has unveiled its RTCC, ultimately choosing the Fusus system that was originally proposed. This state-of-the-art center will provide our police officers and civilian staff with real-time intelligence, improving public safety and response times.

But we can’t stop here.

It’s time for Peoria to lead the way in cost-effective, tech-driven policing. Instead of sinking millions into maintaining outdated helicopters — often called “flying dinosaurs” in law enforcement circles — Peoria should invest in a modern drone program. Many agencies nationwide have already implemented drone systems that integrate seamlessly with RTCCs, providing faster, more efficient, and more affordable aerial surveillance.

A robust drone program would cost a fraction of traditional aviation expenses, freeing up city funds for parks, trails, and infrastructure. We owe it to our residents to make smart, forward-thinking investments in public safety.