Project Overview:

This project examines how police helicopter patrol practices shape community health and equity in Los Angeles, with a focus on the disproportionate exposure of Latine and Black neighborhoods to persistent aerial surveillance and noise. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study evaluates whether helicopter flight patterns are patterned by race and socioeconomic status and assesses their impacts on sleep quality, health, and productivity. The research further investigates the potential benefits of reduced or modified patrol practices, including improvements in sleep and downstream health outcomes. By generating evidence on the health and equity implications of rotorcraft surveillance, the project aims to inform law enforcement decision-making and policy development, supporting strategies that reduce noise-related harms and address structural drivers of racial inequities.