During Trump-Bush’s Unlawful, Involuntary Takeover of DC, Helicopters Hovered Over and Surveilled Law Abiding People Day and Night, Destroying Freedoms to Make Citizens Feel Safer

During President Donald Trump’s month-long anti-crime surge in D.C., U.S. Park Police helicopters circled or hovered over the city seven times as much as they did during the same time last year, and they did so at lower altitudes, according to a Washington Post analysis of flight data.  That activity accounted for about half of nearly 40 hours helicopters from local and federal law enforcement agencies spent flying in those patterns, maneuvers that frustrated and annoyed many residents who opposed Trump’s surge. 

The Post analysis identified helicopters that were hovering or circling in the 30 days after the surge began on Aug. 7., and excluded those flying only from one location to another.  The analysis includes only helicopters that broadcast their locations, known as an “ADS-B signal.” This signal is sometimes turned off for high-level dignitary matters or national security reasons. The Post compared helicopter activity from USPP, D.C. police and Prince George’s County police to the same period last year. [MORE]