CHICAGO — The skyline of Chicagoland now hosts a new ally in the fight against crime: the Cook County Sheriff’s Police helicopter, equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

“This helicopter is a game-changer,” said Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart in an interview with the I-Team. “Its ability to read license plates and track the movement of vehicles is unmatched. Once airborne, it allows us to closely follow suspects, providing crucial guidance on their whereabouts.”

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Outfitted with powerful cameras and a sophisticated mapping system, this aerial asset is key in the battle against crime in both urban and suburban areas. Sheriff Dart highlighted its effectiveness in tackling organized retail theft, particularly around train yards and rail lines.

“The helicopter gives us a bird’s eye view, enabling us to quickly deploy units to strategic points,” Dart explained. “There are only so many ways out of those areas, and this tool helps us cover them efficiently.”

Recently, the I-Team joined the Cook County Sheriff’s Police on an early morning operation targeting retail theft from trains. The helicopter’s onboard monitors provide real-time street mapping, allowing officers to coordinate efforts and safely track suspects, avoiding the risks associated with high-speed pursuits.

“We have no need to do that, right? We literally know where they’re going,” said Dart. “We didn’t have to even get close to them, following them, the helicopters following them. And there was ability to have other units in the general area where someone was going to get there, and when they bailed on the car, there were people right there, right because the helicopter was already above there, we’d get people in custody. We never would have gotten before.”

The Cook County sheriff’s helicopter is seen as such a policing asset that it’s also tapped for work on a joint task force with Chicago police to help cover 975 square miles in Chicagoland.

“It’s just so wildly helpful. And in the world we’re in now, I don’t even know how you can operate without this stuff anymore. It’s just so important,” said Dart.