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APSA's E-Newsletter is designed to bring you the latest on news and events within the public safety aviation community. The E-Newsletter may also be read online here at our website.

APSA Announces Public Safety Drone EXPO 2017

The first ever Public Safety Drone EXPO 2017, to be held Oct. 16-19 in New Orleans, LA, will bring together public safety industry leaders, educators, decision makers and end-users to share the latest in UAS technology, applications and education. The inaugural event, produced by the Airborne Public Safety Association, will take place at the New Orleans DoubleTree Hotel.

Public Safety Drone EXPO 2017 is intended to provide a platform to showcase the industry’s latest technology for law enforcement, fire and search and rescue. The EXPO will offer a combination of interactive public safety-specific UAS courses, classes and general sessions. Attendees will learn from top subject matter experts, and the expo hall will feature industry service providers, manufacturers, advocates and thought leaders who bring together cutting-edge technology and applications.

Specific, targeted conference class tracks will focus on Law Enforcement, Fire, Search & Rescue, Special Presentations and Features. In-depth conference courses will include Public Safety UAS Operations, Remote Pilot Training and UAS Safety Management Systems. Early speaker commitments include John Meehan, FAA Unmanned Aerial Systems Integration Team, and Hoot Gibson, FAA Senior Advisor on UAS integration. Attendees, exhibitors and media can visit the APSA website, www.alea.org, for more information. Details on courses and classes will be available as the event nears.

APSA to Conduct Remote Pilot-In-Command Training Courses

APSA's Remote Pilot-In-Command Course includes twenty (20) hours of classroom training for UAS staff that is designed to provide a review of the Federal Aviation Regulations PART 107 Remote Pilot Certification Process. The course is a must-have for agencies to train their personnel on how to operate sUAS and to obtain pilot certification; it will prepare the student to successfully take the FAA Pilot’s Exam for this rating. 

The Remote Pilot-In-Command Course is intended for public safety personnel, both sworn and non-sworn, who are interested in obtaining their FAA Remote Pilot Certificate under FAR PART 107. The cost is $150 (which includes a one-year membership to APSA).  Course dates and host agencies include:

• June 20-21, 2017            Mesa County (CO) Sheriff’s Office (today is last day to register)
• August 26-27, 2017         Grand Forks County (ND) Sheriff’s Department
• September 16-17, 2017   Willmar (MN) Police Department
• October 28-29, 2017        Ventura County (CA) Sheriff’s Office
• January 13-14, 2018        Spokane County (WA) Sheriff’s Office       

Bringing 34 years of experience in local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, instructor Alan Frazier spent the majority of his career with the Glendale (CA) Police Department, where he served in a wide variety of assignments including officer-in-charge of the Air Support Unit. He is currently employed as an Assistant Professor of Aviation at the University of North Dakota, where he teaches helicopter and public safety related courses. He is also employed as a Grand Forks County (ND) Deputy Sheriff, supervising the department's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Unit.

All attendees must be registered to participate. You can register at https://alea.ungerboeck.com/prod/emc00/register.aspx?OrgCode=10&EvtID=5220&AppCode=REG&CC=117051746305. Please call the APSA office at 301-631-2406 for assistance.

MCSO Helicopter Crashed While Helping With Wildfire; Pilot Able to Swim Ashore

A Marion County (FL) Sheriff’s Office helicopter crashed into a small lake on May 3 while helping fight a wildfire. Sgt. John Rawls was piloting the helicopter, Air One, about 6:30 p.m., while helping firefighters with a brush fire when it went down, sheriff’s officials said.

Rawls was the only person on board at the time and had a bucket attached to the helicopter to fill with water and dump on the flames. Officials said when Rawls flew over the lake to fill the bucket, something went wrong and the helicopter lost power and crashed into the water.

When he went down, the helicopter rolled over at least once, sheriff’s officials said. Rawls unbuckled himself and got out of the helicopter. Then he swam roughly 50 yards to the edge of the lake. Officials said the helicopter was totally submerged; the only thing that could be seen was one blade sticking out of the water.

After swimming to shore, Rawls called for help. Fire crews helped deputies forge a path in the thick vegetation to the lake so emergency medical crews could reach Rawls. They took him to a local hospital where his injuries weren’t considered serious, sheriff’s officials said.

SOURCE: www.firstcoastnews.com

Los Angeles Police Officers Fire From Helicopter

Los Angeles Police Department officers fired a rifle from a helicopter during a shootout with a man in early May, marking the first time a specially trained SWAT officer has opened fire from a helicopter over a scene, according to LAPD. Chief Charlie Beck told reporters an autopsy would reveal how many times the 29-year-old man was struck by gunfire and whether it came from officers on the ground or in the helicopter. The chief said it appears he was struck by the airborne officer.

Police shootings from helicopters are rare. Experts have said such shootings are justified only in the most desperate situations and when other tactics are more dangerous. The decision to bring in officers trained to fire from a helicopter was not taken lightly, Beck said. It requires approval from a high-level officer. “When the geography and the circumstances dictate, we want to make sure that it’s available. That’s exactly what happened in this instance,” he said.

SOURCE: www.officer.com

Sharks Spotted by Sheriff’s Helicopter; Aircrew Warns Beachgoers

A video shot from an Orange County (CA) Sheriff’s Department helicopter gives an overhead view of great white sharks hanging around near shore. Relaying a request from state parks officials, the aircrew urged swimmers to leave the ocean. Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL40QAHRMJo

“You are paddleboarding next to approximately 15 great white sharks,” Deputy Brian Stockbridge said in a public address announcement on May 10, above the Dana Point Beach. “They are advising you exit the water in a calm manner. The sharks are as close as the surf line.”

“Please do not enter the water,” the deputy warned. The airborne warning was the latest in a handful of advisories issued to swimmers in recent weeks as great white sharks have migrated to the coast of Southern California. According to marine experts, California’s warm waters and abundant food supply have drawn young sharks to the coastline.

SOURCE: www.washingtonpost.com

San Diego Upgrades Police Helicopters

The San Diego Police Department has established a secure two-way network connection for its airborne law enforcement helicopter fleet through a partnership between the city and AT&T. The new technology will help officers on the ground locate and track the helicopters using their onboard GPS. The system also logs and provides post-flight mission reporting.

The wireless LTE network and custom-designed, secure internet connection will allow TFOs to connect ruggedized tablets to police communications and dispatch systems while in the air. Previously, officers were unable to access the department’s computer-aided dispatch system.

“When police officers are protecting our communities, I want to make sure they have the best technology at their disposal,” Mayor Kevin Faulconer said. “This idea came directly from one of our officers, and AT&T was enthusiastic about working with us to make it a reality. This now gives officers in the air powerful new tools to keep our neighborhoods safe.”

SOURCE: www.gcn.com

New York State Police Marks 100th Year of Service

The New York State Police celebrated 100 years of operations in mid-May. An exhibition at one of the department’s headquarters included artifacts going back to April 11, 1917, when the state police were created, a chance to meet troopers dressed in vintage uniforms, demonstrations from aviation, scuba and mounted units, and lessons in the latest law enforcement technology. For the aviation demonstrations, helicopters flew over the crowd, and an aviation-assigned trooper rappelled about 30 feet while the crowd felt the downdraft from the rotor blades.

“This shows how far we’ve come,” said Trooper Ken Boris, who brought his four children to the event. “It helps people understand the work we do when we put on that uniform.”

SOURCE: www.recordonline.com 

Prince George’s County to Expand Aviation Section

The Prince George’s County (MD) Police Department (PGPD) has ordered a new helicopter to expand its aviation section. The MD520N will be the third in the department’s fleet and feature a Block 1 glass cockpit. It is expected to be ready to start operations in the spring of 2018. Headquartered in College Park, PGPD has operated two MD520Ns since 2000.

“As an enthusiastic advocate for police aviation, I am very pleased that our agency is expanding our fleet with MD Helicopters,” said PGPD Chief Henry Stawinski III. “This will allow us to expand our day-to-day capabilities and ensure the future of our aviation program.”

The PGPD Aviation Section will be the first law enforcement operator to fly the 450-shp Rolls-Royce 250-C20R/2-powered MD520N with the new Block 1 all-glass cockpit, according to MD Helicopters. The cockpit features a Howell Instruments Engine Instruments Display, Garmin G500H EFIS and Garmin GTN 650 NAV/COM/GPS, as well as the Garmin GTN 635 COM/GPS. MD Helicopters plans to deliver the custom-configured machine to the PGPD Aviation Section in the second quarter of 2018.

SOURCE: www.airmedandrescue.com 

APSA Online Meetings: June 2017 Schedule

Meetings are conducted through an online conference call you can join using your computer, device or phone. Online meetings are open to any APSA member. To receive meeting information and be added to the mailing list, send an email to safety@PublicSafetyAviation.org.

For June, an online meeting for UAS operators will be conducted on Wednesday, June 14 from 1:00-2:00 PM (1700 UTC); for Safety Officers on Monday, June 19 from 1:00-2:00 PM (1700 UTC); and for maintenance technicians on Wednesday, June 28 from 1:00-2:00 PM EDT (1700 UTC). Contract maintenance providers to APSA members are welcome to participate in the maintenance meeting as well.  

SOURCE: www.ocregister.com

Columbus Police Upgrades Helicopters

The Columbus (OH) Division of Police has entered into an agreement with MD Helicopters to upgrade its final two MD500E helicopters. The department converted four of its MD500Es to certified F-models via the same program in 2015. The helicopters are expected to be overhauled and re-certified as F-models with zero-time engines in a few weeks. The FAA-approved factory recertification will take place at MD Helicopters’ manufacturing facility and completions center in Mesa, AZ.

As with the department’s four previous E-to-F conversions, the procedure will increase the hot-and-high performance of the aircraft and improve their operational range and flight time. Improvements include an engine upgrade from the Rolls Royce 250-C20B to the more powerful RR250-C30, replacement of the blades and stabilizers, installation of the Garmin G500H dual-screen electronic flight display, and addition of a Fargo auxiliary fuel tank. The newly certified MD530F helicopters are due to be delivered this summer.

SOURCE: www.airmedandrescue.com

Man Who Aimed Laser at Ontario Police Helicopter Sentenced

A 28-year-old man from Fontana, CA was sentenced late last month to a probationary sentence of community service and fined $1,000 for aiming a green laser beam at an Ontario Police Department helicopter, causing a member of the flight crew to be momentarily dazed. The man pled guilty in February to the felony offense, which carries a maximum penalty of up to five years behind bars and civil fines.

When the laser beam struck the helicopter, it created a prism effect in the cockpit, causing a member of the flight crew to become momentarily dazed and creating a dangerous flight situation, according to court papers. In his plea agreement, filed in Los Angeles federal court, the man admitted that he knew that it was dangerous and distracting to shoot the laser at the helicopter.

“Lasers are not toys and pointing one at a plane or helicopter in the air is not mischief but a serious federal crime,” Deirdre Fike, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, said in a statement after a previous hearing. “The clear skies in Southern California generate a significant amount of aircraft flying at any given time and, unfortunately, more illegal laser strikes,” she said. “The Ontario Police Department should be commended for acting quickly after their pilot was temporarily disabled by the laser beam, and for identifying the perpetrator on the ground.”

Reports of laser attacks have increased dramatically in recent years, with 1,238 laser strikes reported in California last year, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Source: www.dailybulletin.com

Tennessee Units Find Success With UAS Programs

The Hamilton County (TN) Sheriff's Office has been using unmanned aircraft systems for almost a year, flying the aircraft over crash scenes, SWAT standoffs and wildfires to get an overview of thorny situations, all without having to put deputies at risk. The sheriff's office is the only law enforcement agency in the county that has a UAS program, and deputies are finding many potential applications.

“They have a lot of advantages,” Sheriff Jim Hammond said in late May while watching a detective operate a UAS. “It's good to get up there and cover a wide area in a short amount of time.” The department has estimated its UAS operating costs at below $25 an hour, compared to $350 per hour for manned missions.

Meanwhile, in neighboring Dickson County, the Sheriff’s Office purchased an unmanned aircraft system and infrared camera for about $8,000 nine months ago. And while Lieutenant Jeff McCliss said the program is still “very much in its infant stages,” the department has really begun to explore UAS uses in the last several months. “We feel that it is a force multiplier whose utility far exceeds the cost,” McCliss said. “This is all very rapidly emerging technology, and the laws and protocol have not quite caught up with the technology yet.”

SOURCE: www.timesfreepress.com and www.tennessean.com

Aircrew Finds Hiker Missing Almost a Week

The Flathead County (MT) Sheriff's Office recently rescued a 23-year-old woman from Illinois nearly one week after she went missing on a hike. Madeline Connelly left for a hike in the Great Bear Wilderness on May 4, planning to spend a night camping with her dog. Local officials launched a search effort after she didn't return.

Connelly was located six days later by search and rescue crews about five miles from her car. She was “uninjured” but “tired and hungry” when she was found, police sad. Connelly said she became lost after her first night camping and didn't know how to get back to her vehicle. At times, she wandered further into the wilderness. “I thought if I kept going I would be in the same loop of a trail, and I would just get out,” she said. “And then I ended up at a lake, and I was like. ‘Well, this isn't right.’” Connelly didn't have a tent or any supplies, she said, and slept under trees for protection from the elements.

SOURCE: www.abcnews.go.com

Multiple California Units Ramp Up UAS Programs

The Menlo Park (CA) Fire Protection District, Alameda County Sheriff’s Office and Fremont Fire Department have begun flying regular missions with unmanned aircraft systems. The Moraga-Orinda Fire District is close to launching its drone program. Last month, two years after a citywide moratorium was enacted, San Francisco approved a new policy that will eventually allow its fire department and four other city agencies to use UAS.

Privacy concerns have helped ground drone plans in San Jose and Berkeley. “It needs to be regulated so it doesn’t become a way to spy on the general public and innocent civilians who are not doing anything wrong,” Berkeley City Councilman Kriss Worthington said.

Some critics also worry the UAS could crash into buildings or airplanes. But fire and law enforcement agencies say the technology can save time, money and lives. “This technology is not just awesome, it’s a game changer,” said Menlo Park Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman.

SOURCE: www.sfchronicle.com  

Louisiana Sheriff’s Office Launches UAS Program

The Bossier (LA) Sheriff’s Office has launched an initiative, spearheaded by Sheriff Julian Whittington, to develop an unmanned aircraft systems program. The department has five UAS in its fleet: two DJI Matrice 100s, two DJI Inspire 1s and a DJI Phantom 3 Advanced. The Phantom is used primarily for training.

The team has developed its own FAA-approved training program and has special permission to fly at night. “From finding lost children in the woods or seniors with dementia who’ve wandered off, to locating criminals on the run, to providing a bird’s eye view during floods or other disasters, these unmanned aerial systems are an invaluable public safety resource,” Whittington said. “It’s another tool in our toolbox, and quite frankly, when it comes to the use of technology to help people, the sky’s the limit.”

SOURCE: www.thedigitalcircuit.com

 Snap & Win: Have You Entered Air Beat’s Photo Contest?

Enter your best shots in Air Beat magazine's 2017 Photo Contest to win a GoPro Hero5 Black camera. HERO5 Black is the most powerful and easy to use GoPro ever, thanks to its 4K video, voice control, one-button simplicity, touch display and waterproof design. You're gonna love it; enter Air Beat's photo contest today for your chance to win!

To be eligible to enter, the photographer must be an APSA member in good standing, and the photos must have a public safety aviation element (aircraft, crew, mission, training, etc.) and include a caption. The submission deadline is June 30, 2017 and entries are being accepted at www.airbeatmagazine.com. The more photos you submit, the greater your chances of winning. The GoPro Hero5 Black camera will be awarded on July 27 during the General Membership Meeting at APSA EXPO 2017 in Reno, NV. The winner is not required to be present.

 New Jersey Unit Adds UAS

The Brick Township (NJ) Police Department has purchased an unmanned aircraft system and trained officers to be pilots. The small UAS, equipped with a camera, was purchased using funding from the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety’s Comprehensive Traffic Safety Grant, the department said in a news release.

The department expects to use the UAS for search and rescue, scene documentation, situational awareness, visual perspective and tactical deployment. Police Chief James Riccio must authorize the use of the drone, and officers will follow FAA UAS rules, as well as a law enforcement directive covering drones issued by the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, officials said.

SOURCE: www.patch.com  

California Agencies Team Up for Mountain Rescue

A 59-year-old woman was sent to the hospital in mid-May after a helicopter rescue on Bishop Peak. San Luis Obispo City Fire Battalion Chief Neal Berryman said the rescue effort began after a report of a hiker who became light-headed. When crews arrived, they found that while the woman was being assisted up some rocks, she dislocated her shoulder. It took about 30 minutes for medics to reach her, and a helicopter then flew the hiker back down the mountain. The rescue was a collaborative effort between San Luis Obispo Fire, CAL FIRE and the California Highway Patrol. Fire managers say gusty winds made the rescue efforts more difficult.

SOURCE: www.ksby.com 

Indiana Police Departments Want UAS, Face Legal Challenges

Indiana's two largest police departments want unmanned aircraft systems for crowd surveillance at major gatherings and monitoring traffic at large events. But the uses appear to be against the law in Indiana.

At least 10 Indiana police agencies own UAS, and more are considering the possibility. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) hopes to find funding in its 2018 budget. Top officials at the department said crowd surveillance was one possible benefit. Indiana State Police also are currently researching UAS, according to a spokesperson, saying traffic control was one of its goals. But in Indiana, which is among 17 other states with similar laws, a police department needs a warrant to use a UAS, except in a few circumstances and in emergency situations. That means IMPD most likely wouldn't be able to fly near large gatherings unless officials feared a terrorist attack or expected a crime. Nor could state police watch for traffic snarls outside big events.

SOURCE: www.indystar.com  

CHP Rescues Hikers Battling Frostbite at High Altitude

A California Highway Patrol helicopter crew rescued hikers stranded on Mount Whitney in mid-May after one of them was unable to continue because of frostbite. Despite the high elevation and rocky terrain, Pilot Ty Blasingame and Paramedic Mike Crain landed a short distance from the hikers and helped them aboard.

The two hikers reached the 14,505-foot elevation Mount Whitney summit but were unable to descend due to the case of frostbite. The victims had spent the night in a rock shelter at the peak, but temperatures fell to the low teens and both became hypothermic. The hikers, a 20-year-old woman from Los Angeles and a 34-year-old Ontario man, were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 states, has claimed the life of one climber this year.

SOURCE: www.fresnobee.com

Police Aviation Apprehend Fleeing Suspect in Dramatic Chase

The Delaware State Police Aviation Unit arrested a 31-year-old man after he fled from the scene of an automobile crash in mid-May. The male subject was observed operating a 2010 Toyota Corolla, passing vehicles on the shoulder, when it traveled off the south side of the road and struck a ditch. The car overturned multiple times, and the operator was then seen exiting the vehicle and fleeing on foot through a wooded area and into a field.

The state police’s Trooper 2 was flying in the area and was informed of the crash. The crew located the suspect running through an open field and was able to lower the aircraft into a position to block his egress. The trooper medic then exited the helicopter and forced the subject to the ground before the two-person crew handcuffed him and took him into custody without further incident.

SOURCE: www.milfordlive.com 

U.K. Police Unit Trials UAS

The Wiltshire Police in the UK has launched an Unmanned Aviation Support Group via a pilot program. If the program is successful, the department will work to become an accredited training center for a police-specific UAS course.

Chief Constable Mike Veale began looking into the use of UAS in 2016 to augment the manned helicopter coverage provided by the National Police Aviation Service. Veale recognized members of the Special Constabulary already had extensive experience in the area and asked the part-time volunteer officers to take the lead on the project. Members of the Special Constabulary and one regular police officer have been professionally trained to operate UAS, and the proper licenses have been obtained from the Civil Aviation Authority.

SOURCE: www.airmedandrescue.com

Washington Unit Speeds Investigations With UAS

The Auburn (WA) Police Department has launched a new program to use unmanned aircraft systems to investigate crimes and crashes. The devices have allowed the department to do in two- to three-hour operations what previously required 10 to 15 hours.

Auburn police started using UAS late last year. The department also plans to deploy them for major crime investigations, where it can easily share the aerial images collected with prosecutors to be used to criminal cases. Nearby police departments in Renton and Kent are also using drones for police investigations.

SOURCE: www.kiro7.com 

 Czech Police to Form UAS Unit

The Police of the Czech Republic plan to create a new unmanned aircraft systems unit in the next two years. Headquarters for the UAS will likely be in Prague, Brno, Ostrava, north Moravia and Ceske Budejovice. The unit is expected to cost almost $7 million, according to a government report.

The UAS are expected to be used to help find missing persons in difficult terrain, document emergency situations, survey industrial accidents, perform bomb disposal reconnaissance and protect state borders. The police will use the drones via an agreement with the interior and transport ministries and the Civil Aviation Authority.

The state police department already has 12 UAS, and another eight are to be purchased. The new unit will be staffed by 28 officers.

SOURC: www.praguemonitor.com

Night Vision Awards Open for Entries; June 30 Deadline

The Night Vision Awards selection committee began taking nominees for the 2017 Night Vision Awards Show in early April. The awards will take place in Reno, NV during APSA EXPO 2017. Entries will be accepted until June 30. The awards will be presented to recipients on July 27 at an awards reception in the Edge Night Club inside the Peppermill Resort Casino Spa hotel.

The Night Vision Awards are a biennial event with ceremonies hosted by Aviation Specialties Unlimited, Night Flight Concepts, Vertical Magazine and Rotorcraft Pro Magazine. The purpose of the awards is to promote operational leadership and excellence in the use of night vision in North America and around the world. For further information, please visit http://www.nightvisionawards.com/.

SOURCE: Aviation Specialties Unlimited

Contra Costa Helicopter Helps Make Mountain Rescue

The Contra Costa (CA) Sheriff’s Office and Contra Costa Fire Protection District worked together to rescue an injured hiker on Mount Diablo in early May. The female hiker, whose age was not released, suffered a severely broken ankle and wasn’t moving when crews reached her. The first responders quickly requested help from the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office STARR 3 helicopter.

Authorities did not say how the hiker injured herself, but they said she was a mile off a trail and the terrain was steep and unstable. After the helicopter crew delivered the hiker to awaiting ambulances, she was taken to a local hospital and is expected to be okay. See video of the rescue at www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/05/07/injured-hiker-on-mount-diablo-helicoptered-to-safety/.

SOURCE: www.eastbaytimes.com

Mesa Police Officer Makes Emergency Helicopter Landing

A Mesa (AZ) Police Department officer-in-training was not seriously hurt when he was forced to make an emergency landing in early May. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the Schweizer 269C helicopter was forced to land due to engine failure. The rookie pilot was the only person onboard. Rural Metro Fire officials say he suffered a head injury but was alert and conscious. The aircraft was damaged significantly. FAA is investigating the incident.

SOURCE: www.azfamily.com

Charlotte Police Report Increased UAS Encounters

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) helicopter pilots say they are encountering increasing numbers of unmanned aircraft systems during patrols. They say it's due to growth in the number of drones and a lack of knowledge about UAS rules. CMPD pilots say they're seeing UAS as high as 500 to 600 feet, in some cases a hundred feet above what’s allowed. 

CMPD reports incidents to the Federal Aviation Administration and, when possible, tries to locate the UAS operators. None of the recent run-ins were described by police as “a near miss” and none appeared intentional, a spokesperson said. About 20,000 drones are registered with FAA in North Carolina.

SOURCE: www.wfae.org

APSA Welcomes New Members

APSA would like to welcome the following individual members who joined during late May 2017:

Corporate Members:

Cocoon, Inc.
FX-LLC
TracPlus
Tronair, Inc.
Vigilance Systems, Inc. 

Individual Members:

Brian Bahlau, Michigan State Police Aviation Section
Daniel Barnard, Portland (OR) Police Bureau Air Support Unit
Matt Binda, Calgary Police Service: Strike Force Unit
Michael Breiling, California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Jeffrey Bush, Virginia State Police Aviation Unit (Richmond)
George Carbocci, Broward County (FL) Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit
Chris Carr, Flight For Life Colorado
Adam Carroll, Pearland (TX) Police Department
Kevin Colmar, Kansas City (MO) Police Department
Steve Congalton, Pomona (CA) Police Department Aero Bureau
Jose Contreras, Fresno (CA) Police Department:  Air Support Unit
Chris Coppersmith, Tempe (AZ) Police Department
David Crites, Tempe (AZ) Police Department
Logan Cudby, Airwork Group
Richard Culp, Virginia State Police Aviation Unit (Richmond)
Matthew Depolo, Contra Costa County (CA) Fire
Eugene Dooling, AirScout
Jason Dosh, Contra Costa County (CA) Fire
Jennifer Earle, California Highway Patrol
Shayne Eskew, Mason County (MI) Sheriff's Office
Katie Farnoly, U.S. Navy Reserves
Nicholas Fleischmann, Fresno (CA) Police Department:  Air Support Unit
Michael Fraser, Los Angeles (CA) Police Department Air Support Division
Mike Garland, Calgary Police Service Air Support Unit
Jeff Girgle, Helisafe LLC
Seth Hall, RNSP/Orange County (CA) Sheriff's Department
Teri Harless, Bakersfield (CA) Police Department
Daniel Heenan, ATF
Peter Hermes, Independent Member
Ian Hoey, California Highway Patrol
Mark Hubert, Los Angeles (CA) Police Department Air Support Division
David Jones, Pima County (AZ) Sheriff's Department Tactical Air Support Unit
Aaron Kahre, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Enforcement
Gerard Kay, Regina Police Service
Stephen Konold, Maryland State Police Aviation Command - SYSCOM
Kristopher Kubasta, San Jose (CA) Police Department Air Support Unit
Erik Lidgren, Riverside (CA) Police Department Aviation Unit
Darin Lund, Phoenix (AZ) Police Department
Stephen Maier, Travis County (TX) STAR Flight
Bryan Marr, Los Angeles County (CA) Sheriff's Department Aero Bureau
James McKenna, Rotor & Wing International
Brandon McMillan, Kansas Highway Patrol Troop T - Hays
Daniel Meadows, Delaware State Police Aviation Section Administration
Thomas Morava, Insitu
Antonio More, US Navy
Patrick Murray, Lexington Police Department
Paul Nelson, Pomona (CA) Police Department Aero Bureau
John Nunes, Unmanned Outreach
Villaverde Orlando, Miami (FL) Police Department Aviation Detail
Lee Owen, COBHAM
Christopher Pecori, Miami-Dade (FL) Fire Rescue
Will Pigeon, Contra Costa County (CA) Fire
Daniel Pinkosky, Pomona (CA) Police Department Aero Bureau
Kevin Platt, Contra Costa County (CA) Fire
Robert Riddick, St. Charles (LA) Parish Sheriff's Office
Robert Riley, Kansas City (MO) Police Department
Stephen Robertson, Civil Air Patrol
Caylon Rogers, Houston (TX) Police Department: Air Support Division
Stephen Ryan, Maryland State Police Aviation Command - SYSCOM
Timothy Schuh, Grand Forks (ND) Police Department
Jamie Smart, Contra Costa County (CA) Fire
Matthew Stanton, New South Wales Police Aviation Support Branch
Jeffrey Suarez, Miami-Dade (FL) Fire Rescue
Jon Taormina, Contra Costa County (CA) Fire
Charles Thompson III, NC Counterdrug
John Toomey, Larimer County (CO) Sheriff's Office
Andre Vermette, RCMP Langley Air Section
Matt Weekes, AT&T
Ken Whiteley, ATF
Kathleen Wieneke, Struck Wieneke & Love
Dave Woods, Contra Costa County (CA) Fire
Brandon Yourczek, FBI
Jon Zwick, Multnomah County (OR) Sheriff's Office

Get Ready for APSA EXPO 2017 Next Month: Unmatched Educational Agenda for Public Safety Aviators; Don’t Miss It!

APSA EXPO 2017, taking place July 24-29, is an exceptional weeklong conference that sets the standard for excellence in the public safety aviation. Avail yourself of the latest in skills, techniques, tactics, regulations, practices, philosophies, methodologies, support programs, systems and factors in conducting safe and effective public safety aviation missions by attending our diverse Conference Courses and Classes. Experience the vast array of public safety aviation products and services by visiting our 200-booth exposition where exhibitors will showcase their latest technology to unit decision-makers and end-users. Network with your peers at the vendor-sponsored special events and enjoy the "the biggest little city in the world". All of this combines to create an exceptional learning and sharing environment in one central location.

Advance registration is open through July 10, 2017. Visit http://alea.org/alea-expo-2017-reno-nv/ to register now. If mailing your registration, to receive the advance rate, APSA must receive the registration form postmarked no later than July 10, 2017, and payment MUST accompany the registration form. After July 10, 2017, ALL registrations must be handled onsite and will be charged the onsite registration rate. For additional information and/or assistance, please contact the APSA Headquarters at 301-631-2406 or bosborne@PublicSafetyAviation.org or cdavis@PublicSafetyAviation.org.