Winnipeg Police are looking into an embarrassing mistake by a couple of their officers.
An R-rated conversation inside the police helicopter was accidentally broadcast through an open microphone Monday night.
It could be heard by people on the ground as the chopper flew through the West End.
Police have released the following statement about what happened:
“On June 22, 2015, at approximately 9:30 p.m., members of the Winnipeg Police Service Helicopter AIR1, while on routine patrol, inadvertently activated the aircraft’s public address system. As a result, the flight crew’s conversation was publically broadcast; some content of the conversation was inappropriate.
The involved members were not able to hear the public address system from within the aircraft. They became aware their conversation had been broadcast and immediately turned the system off.
The Winnipeg Police Service, the Flight Operations Unit, and the involved members sincerely apologize to all members of the public, especially those who overheard the broadcast.
This incident is being reviewed. The outcome of this review will be determined at a later time.”
“Kind of Absurd”
Jacob Serebrin was walking near the Legislature with his friend when he heard part of the conversation.
“We weren’t sure where it was coming from, he says to me ‘I think it’s coming from the helicopter’ because we could hear the helicopter a little bit and sure enough it comes overhead and we could hear them talking,” he says.
“They were talking about money I think. The one guy said ‘[expletive] $600 a week’ and we sort of laughed at that and it kept flying on.”
Serebrin says he found it more funny than offensive and he didn’t hear anything sexual. He says it went on for about five minutes before the speaker was turned off.
“It was just kind of absurd to hear the helicopter and these guys just broadcasting their conversation to the whole city.”
Winnipeggers took to Twitter after hearing the broadcast.
Pilots in the Winnipeg police helicopter having a conversation with their loudspeaker on. Pretty funny to hear. #Winnipeg #wpgpolice
— Jacob Serebrin (@jacobserebrin) June 23, 2015
Does the #Winnipeg chopper realize the entire West End can hear their convo about blow jobs right now? @winnipeg311 #speakerphone #whoops
— Natanielle (@natncello) June 23, 2015
Jeez, the one night I take a break from gardening and mosquitos, the WPG police helicopter flies over West End with speakers on. #whoops
— Jacqueline Fortier (@jongleusepro) June 23, 2015
That moment you realize you left the speakerphone on while having an X-rated conversation in a Police Helicopter. #whoops
— Robin B (@Mad_Skippy) June 23, 2015
Why are the police helicopter’s radio discussions public ?
— Aaron Ingram (@Aaron_L_Ingram) June 23, 2015
So my teenager just told me the police helicopter is broadcasting their business. I thought he was crazy, but… #speakerphone #winnipeg
— Marie Cee (@MarieinPegcity) June 23, 2015
Photo courtesy of Global News Winnipeg
