News release
Police Use Helicopter in Innovative West Prince Enforcement Effort, Resulting in Multiple Arrests
November 24, 2025
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West Prince, Prince Edward Island
From: Prince Edward Island RCMP
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RCMP in Prince Edward Island recently employed a helicopter to support officers conducting targeted enforcement in West Prince, marking the first time this innovative approach has been used in the province. The coordinated effort focused on preventing impaired driving and deterring dangerous flight-from-police situations—both of which pose significant risks to public safety.
Police stopped over a hundred vehicles this weekend on Friday and Saturday nights in West Prince with the goal of identifying impaired drivers and stopping drivers who attempt to flee police. Flight from police is an extremely dangerous behaviour that often leads to crashes and endangers the public, officers, and those attempting to escape.
With the support of the helicopter, police successfully located four drivers who fled from officers in cars trucks and ATVs. All four were arrested for impaired driving by alcohol and flight from police. A fifth driver was stopped, did not take flight, and was arrested for impaired driving by alcohol. In one alarming case, the impaired driver had a vehicle full of young people, highlighting the severe risks associated with this behaviour.
The locations of enforcement actions were chosen based on data of the most frequent flight from police incidents. Prince County also has the highest fatal motor vehicle collision numbers per capita in PEI. With just 30% of the population, 50% of PEI’s fatal crashes in RCMP jurisdiction have occurred in Prince County over the last five years.
This was a collaborative project involving Prince District RCMP, RCMP Provincial Traffic Services, RCMP General Investigations Section, RCMP Police Dog Services, the Joint Enforcement Team and RCMP Atlantic Air Services. The helicopter was deployed through PEI’s shared agreement with the RCMP’s Atlantic Regional Air Services.
Totals:
- 115 traffic stops
- 23 violation tickets issued
- 4 flight from police arrests
- 5 impaired driving arrests.
“Deploying these resources reflects PEI RCMP’s strong commitment to tackling impaired and dangerous driving in Prince Edward Island. The use of the helicopter in this operation demonstrates how we are embracing innovative approaches to support frontline police and protect our communities. Every impaired or fleeing driver taken off the road is a potential life saved, and we will continue to invest in the tools and strategies needed to keep Islanders safe” said Chief Superintendent Kevin Lewis, Commanding Officer for the PEI RCMP.
