City will spend $5.2 million to replace 20-year-old CMPD helicopter

CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte City Council said Monday that it will replace a police helicopter that is more than 20 years old.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said it cannot buy a drone to replace “Snoopy,” which is needed for things such as pursuits and extractions.

[ALSO READ: Flying with Snoopy]

The $5.2 million to buy the new chopper will be pulled from the Capital Investment Plan and not CMPD’s budget.

Council voted 10-1 to purchase the new helicopter, with only Councilman Braxton Winston opposing the buy.

CMPD helicopter nearly strikes drone over uptown Charlotte Charlotte-Mecklenburg police??€™s helicopter, Snoopy, nearly hit a drone Wednesday night while it was flying over uptown Charlotte.

Cox Media Group