Helicopter Flyover

I live in Washington DC near the National Zoo.  Freaky things happen in this town all the time: buildings are evacuated, Metro cars searched by police armed with automatic weapons, and buses never run on time.  However last night it hit a little closer to home.

At around 2 AM, a helicopter began orbiting near the Zoo (which is right outside my balcony) with its spotlight beaming to the ground and occasionally passing my bedroom window.  Helicopter flyovers are also nothing new in this town where dignitaries hitch rides on US Marine choppers all the time.  However, this was no Marine helicopter (it looked like a commercial model that police and news stations use) and it was 2 AM.  After about 20 minutes of this continued activity, right in the middle of my natural sleep cycle, I decided to do something about it.  I did what any responsible DC citizen would do, I called 911.  The lady who answered was a bit surprised at my complaint, and said that it was a DC Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) helicopter flying over, in search of an armed criminal.  She suggested I take shelter in a secure location, and to keep a lookout for some guy wielding a gun.  She said if I saw anything I should definitely call back.

I thought this alarmist response was a bit immature, though this town is occasionally known for its instances violent crime (mostly political types disposing of bodies in Rock Creek Park, anyone remember Chandra Levy?).  The helicopter continued to fly over in the same pattern for over an hour more, and then disappeared.  This morning’s Washington Post contained no news of the incident, and its website had no mention.  The MPD  incident blotter also contained no mention.  As a taxpaying resident I would like to know why this helicopter interrupted my sleep for so long, but alas, a communist-style government has decided I should have no further details.  I am left only to trust that the DC Council and the MPD have my best interests in mind, and that such a cover up is in my own interest.

I can only hope that I fare much better this evening. So far, so good…