| August 2018 | Airborne Public Safety Association, Inc. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In This Issue: APSA's 2nd Annual Public Safety Drone Expo is Coming to Reno! Safety Seminar Series Headed to Newport Beach Next Month APSF Honors Excellence With Annual Awards Canada Tightens Rules for Laser Attacks on Aircraft California Department Starts UAS Program U.S. Park Police Helicopter Moved to Museum APSA Online Meetings: August Schedule Butte County Helicopter Credited With Arrest During Marijuana Operation Seminole County Helicopter on Display at APSCON U.K. Makes Laser Aircraft Attacks Punishable by Five Years Ohio State Aviation Unit Assists on Four Arrests in One Day New Law Enforcement Helicopter Makes Debut Texas Police, Fire Department Purchase UAS Maryland State Aviation Helps Bust Cocaine Ring in County San Jose Police Upgrades Helicopter NYPD Units Rescue Injured Boaters in Bay Police Helicopters Help Fight Wildfires in Kurdistan Did You Know That APSA Has A YouTube Channel? Ohio Man Charged With Aiming Laser at Police Helicopter Pennsylvania State Helicopter Flown in for Training Day Maryland State Police Looks to Cover Helicopter Pilot Vacancies Mississippi Department to Launch UAS Program NYPD Aviation Indispensable on Fourth of July Indiana First Responders Increasingly Rely on UAS Northern California Sheriff Faces Opposition to UAS Program Abu Dhabi Police Evaluates New Helicopters E-Newsletter Sponsors: APSA Resources: |
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APSF Honors Excellence with Annual Awards
Each year during APSCON, the Airborne Public Safety Foundation (APSF) honors those who have gone above and beyond and made a significant impact in public safety aviation. APSF presented six awards in Louisville, KY last month to recognize deserving individuals for outstanding acts of valor or meritorious service. The 2018 honorees are (pictured left to right, top to bottom):
• Robert L. Cormier Award • Dwayne Bolen, Ontario Provincial Police Aviation Services
• Captain “Gus” Crawford Memorial Aircrew of the Year Award • Wayne Matthews and Dennis Tracy, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Aviation Unit
• Safety Award • Marcelo Guerrante, Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC Brazil)
• Tactical Flight Officer (TFO) Award • Shelby Pace, Baltimore County (MD) Police
Department Aviation Team
• Technical Specialist Award • Adam Valdez, Kern County (CA) Sheriff's Department Air Support Unit
• Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Award • Mathew King, Cass County (ND) Sheriff’s, Department/Northeast Region UAS Unit, and Jordan Drees, Grand Forks (ND) Police Department/Northeast Region UAS Unit
See the September/October issue of Air Beat for a complete recap of the conference, award winners, and scholarship recipients.
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Canada Tightens Rules for Laser Attacks on Aircraft
The Canadian government has enacted measures to restrict battery-operated hand-held lasers and strengthened enforcement powers against the devices. On June 28, Canada’s federal transport minister announced a new measure prohibiting the possession of battery-operated handheld lasers over 1 milliwatt outside a private dwelling without a legitimate purpose. The interim order takes effect immediately. It also allows Transport Canada and delegated law enforcement to issue fines on the spot to anyone who possesses a handheld laser within a prohibited zone without a legitimate reason. The maximum fines are $5,000 for an individual and $25,000 for a corporation. In addition to the interim order, Transport Canada is also designating laser attacks on aircraft as offenses subject to immediate fines under the Canadian Aviation Regulations.
SOURCE: Transport Canada
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APSA Reveals New Logo
As the grand prize was an all-expenses paid trip to APSCON 2018, winning designer Alex Mena Barreto, a captain with the Military Police in São Paulo, Brazil, was on hand for the bid reveal. The new logo was prominently displayed on an impact wall near the entrance to the exhibit hall and stickers of the new logo were provided for all. In the very near future, look for the new logo featured on APSA merchandise, including clothing, patches and challenge coins. Thanks to all who submitted entries and especially to Alex for his award-winning design SOURCE: APSA
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California Department Starts UAS Program
The National City (CA) Police Department rolled out a fleet of quadcopters in mid-July, saying its unmanned aircraft program has been years in the making. The UAS will be used to search areas quickly and give officers real-time information. The Federal Aviation Administration has licensed four National City Police officers and one firefighter as UAS pilots. Officers said the UAS, each of which cost about $2,000, would save time and money. National City Police officials said the drones will not be used for surveillance purposes and can’t do anything more than a police helicopter can. National City is the third police agency in San Diego County to use drone technology. The Chula Vista Police Department and San Diego County Sheriff’s Office already have UAS programs in place. SOURCE: www.10news.com
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U.S. Park Police Helicopter Moved to Museum
The U.S. Park Police (USPP) helicopter known as Eagle 1 recently was delivered to its new home, the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, DC. Eagle One was disassembled and delivered to the museum via flatbed semi in late July and will be on display when the exhibits open on Oct. 13. The helicopter will be part of the museum’s permanent display among other pieces of police nostalgia. According to the USPP website, Eagle One was “the aircraft that rescued survivors from the 1982 Air Florida Flight 90 crash” into the Potomac River. The National Law Enforcement Museum is a subterranean facility depicting the vast history and evolution of the American police institution, spanning antiquity to contemporary law enforcement icons. SOURCE: www.opslens.com
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APSA Online Meetings: August 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 August 2018, the online meeting for UAS operators will be conducted on Wednesday, August 8 from 1:00-2:00 PM EDT (1800 UTC). For safety officers, the meeting will be conducted Friday, August 17 from 1:00-2:00 PM EDT (1800 UTC), and for maintenance technicians on Friday, August 24 from 1:00-2:00 PM EDT (1800 UTC). Contract maintenance providers to APSA members are welcome to participate in the maintenance meeting as well.
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Butte County Helicopter Credited With Arrest During Marijuana Operation
While Butte County (CA) Sheriff’s Office Special Enforcement Unit served a search warrant last month, aerial reconnaissance of the area revealed several plots of marijuana being grown on the property, appearing to be a commercial operation. A makeshift camp was found with bedding, food supplies and camp stove; the marijuana plants had been recently watered. A total of 2,809 marijuana plants were eradicated from the property, which appeared to have been grown by a drug trafficking organization. Water to the marijuana plants was being diverted from two local creeks, and several pesticide and fertilizer bottles littered the area. During the marijuana eradication operation, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office helicopter witnessed a truck enter the search warrant property and immediately turn around and leave at a high rate of speed. The sheriff’s helicopter followed the truck for several miles while the pilot radioed to deputies the direction of travel. The 47-year-old suspect was eventually stopped by ground deputies, due to the assistance of the Butte County Sheriff’s Office helicopter, and arrested for the possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of burglary tools. Butte County Sheriff’s Office air unit is part of the Special Enforcement Unit, operating OH-58 and TH-67 helicopters and a Cessna 182 fixed-wing aircraft. Source: Butte County Sheriff’s Office
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Seminole County Helicopter on Display at APSCON
The Seminole County (FL) Sheriff’s Office displayed its H125 helicopter at APSCON 2018, the Airborne Public Safety Association’s Annual Conference, in early July. Used on missions such as search and rescue, patrol, fire suppression, SWAT and team fast rope deployment, H125s have replaced two aging helicopters for the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. Airbus indicates it has delivered 20 H125s to U.S. and Canadian law enforcement agencies in the last 18 months. Airbus builds the H125 for North America at its final assembly plant in Columbus, MS. SOURCE: www.ainonline.com
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Wichita Police Purchases UAS
Police in Wichita, KS, recently purchased an unmanned aircraft system in an effort to cut costs and increase efficiency. The Wichita Police Department intends to use the UAS primarily for crash-site monitoring, SWAT scenarios, and securing festivals and large events. But locals have expressed concerns for their privacy. “Before we actually deploy it or ever use it, we want to have a policy in place so people are aware of the fact that we have it, what we are going to use it for, what they can expect,” Captain Doug Nolte said. “And I think if you listen to what board members were mentioning today, there are definitely concerns about privacy.” Police Chief Gordon Ramsay indicated the department is open to suggestions to improve its proposed policy. The document states UAS would be used for more efficient law enforcement operations “while continuing to safeguard the right to privacy of all persons.” The document also details observer and pilot requirements, such as completing mandatory training and learning the requisite Federal Aviation Administration local airspace regulations. SOURCE: www.thedrive.com
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U.K. Makes Laser Aircraft Attacks Punishable by Five Years
Shining a laser at an aircraft can be punishable with up to five years in prison under a new U.K. law that came into effect in early July. The Laser Misuse (Vehicles) Act dictates offenders who point a laser pen at any vehicle will face tougher penalties of up to five years in prison, an unlimited fine or both. The law also protects air traffic controllers. The U.K. has reportedly experienced an increase in laser attacks on commercial aircraft and emergency helicopters, including police aircraft and air ambulances. “Lasers, used recklessly, can have very serious, potentially fatal consequences,” Aviation Minister Baroness Sugg said. “This government has toughened up the law to crack down on this dangerous behavior. These new laws offer greater protection for operators and passengers alike against irresponsible and reckless laser use.” SOURCE: www.ukaviation.news
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Ohio State Aviation Unit Assists on Four Arrests in One Day
In both incidents, the OSP aircraft was hovering overhead when the traffic violations occurred and took over pursuit for ground personnel. The first incident involved three individuals fleeing police after a 15-minute vehicle pursuit. In the second arrest, a single man attempted to walk away from his vehicle, but the OSP helicopter maintained visual contact and directed ground officers to his location. SOURCE: www.daytondailynews.com
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New Law Enforcement Helicopter Makes Debut
SOURCE: www.verticalmag.com
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Texas Police, Fire Department Purchase UAS
The Waxahachie (TX) Police Department and Fire Department are working to incorporate unmanned aircraft systems into their operations. Waxahachie Police officer David Bittle said drones were initially brought into law enforcement to help document accidents and outside crime scenes. “We can map those in a fraction of a time without shutting down the road with the drone and some software,” he said. “If we shut down the road and put up the total (mapping) stations, that could take a couple of hours.” Bittle said the department’s UAS, a DJI Inspire One, can fly a programmed route and take the pictures needed to create a three-dimensional map of a scene within minutes. The police department also selected the DJI Inspire One so it could utilize a high-zoom camera or thermal imager. Bittle is a licensed private pilot and drone pilot. The department intends to have a pilot on each shift to operate the UAS. SOURCE: www.waxahachietx.com
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Maryland State Aviation Helps Bust Cocaine Ring in County
The Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office, along with help from the Maryland State Police Aviation Section and other agencies, announced in late July that police had broken up a cocaine distribution ring operating in the county and arrested more than a dozen people on related charges in an investigation that began this spring. According to the Sheriff’s Office, a man was importing and distributing large amounts of powdered and crack cocaine, narcotics pills and heroin. The Queen Anne’s County Drug Task Force was assisted in the investigation by allied agencies: the Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office, Maryland State Police Centreville Barracks, Maryland Natural Resources Police, Centreville Police Department, Queen Anne’s County State’s Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Kent County Narcotics Task Force, Caroline County Drug Task Force, Talbot County Drug Task Force and Delaware State Police. SOURCE: www.myeasternshoremd.com
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San Jose Police Upgrades Helicopter
The San Jose (CA) Police Department (SJPD) recently unveiled its new Airbus H125 helicopter, which replaces an aircraft that had been in service for 16 years. “Helicopters generally don’t fly as long as Air2 did,” San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia said. “It was time to give this police department and this community really what it deserves, to be able to help fight crime.” The new $5.2 million chopper is the third for SJPD and has the horsepower to support other uses beyond pursuing suspects and backing up officers, including rescue operations. The soon-to-be-retired helicopter, an Airbus EC-120B, had become too costly to operate, police said. It was only operating two days per week and was in need of a new, $500,000 engine. The new helicopter will be able to operate four days a week soon after launch and eventually be on full daily duty. SOURCE: www.mercurynews.com
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NYPD Units Rescue Injured Boaters in Bay
Members of the New York Police Department Aviation Unit and Harbor Police rescued two boaters after their vessel struck a raft and tossed them into Jamaica Bay in early July. According to NYPD, the two elite units quickly responded to find the overturned raft and two injured boaters in the water. NYPD divers were deployed from an Aviation Unit helicopter, and officers were able to pluck the injured boaters from the bay and get them medical attention. SOURCE: www.theforumnewsgroup.com
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Police Helicopters Help Fight Wildfires in Kurdistan
The Duhok Police in Kurdistan, which operates five helicopters with seven pilots, has extensively used its aircraft to fight wildfires in the past month. “Our helicopters are designed to be used for police work in temperatures up to 45 to 46 degrees Celsius or in places with water or a dam,” Pilot Sarhang Mohammedamin said. “A heat wave combined with less surface water this summer has resulted in fires across the Kurdistan region.” Wildfires lead to seasonal displacement in Kurdistan, forcing shepherds and farmers off the hills and into cities and towns. Duhok's aviation team, which reports to the local transportation department, helps alleviate the problem. The helicopters take off with 400-liter buckets, scoop water from nearby lakes and make drops on fires. The police department helicopters have also supported Peshmerga during the ISIS conflict. “This team has done its best,” Brigadier General Fakhri Ahmad Majid said. “We, as the transportation department, have done our best too. We deliver our services wherever we’re needed.” SOURCE: www.rudaw.net
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Did You Know That APSA Has A YouTube Channel?
Also, thank you to the many members and corporate vendors who shared their experiences of APSCON 2018 from Louisville, KY on Twitter. Be sure to follow us @PublicSafetyAv8 and use hashtags like #AdvancingPublicSafetyAviation when sharing content.
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Ohio Man Charged With Aiming Laser at Police Helicopter
A Columbus (OH) man faces federal charges after officials say he shined a laser pointer into the cockpit of a police department helicopter in late July. The 36-year-old is charged with interfering with the operation of an aircraft with a laser, a violation of a 2012 federal aviation law. The Columbus Police Department said the green laser pointer was flashed into the cockpit of one of its helicopters as it hovered over the city’s west side. Officers in the helicopter spotted the source and were able to direct ground units to the location. The man, who Columbus police said also pointed the laser at other aircraft, was arrested roughly 13 minutes after he trained the laser on the police helicopter. SOURCE: www.dispatch.com
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Pennsylvania State Helicopter Flown in for Training Day
Five helicopters, including one from the Pennsylvania State Police, were flown into Wiconisco in late July, giving firefighters and first responders from Dauphin and Schuylkill counties a close-up view of the aircraft and hands-on experience in the event of a chopper crash. The Wiconisco Fire Company coordinated the helicopter safety training day, which featured the Pennsylvania State Police Bell Jet Ranger, as well as an EC-135, Dauphin helicopter, CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk. A mock disaster site was also set up nearby. SOURCE: www.republicanherald.com
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Maryland State Police Looks to Cover Helicopter Pilot Vacancies
The Maryland State Police currently has only 55 of its requisite 70 pilots, according to Rick Bartlett, a helicopter pilot and president of Local 3675 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Bartlett said civilian pilots willing to fly helicopters for the Maryland State Police are hard to come by. "We don't have any reserve capability when someone goes on vacation or takes personal leave or gets sick," he said. Maryland State Police is required to have four pilots on duty 24 hours a day at seven bases across the state. Spokesperson Elena Russo confirmed the Aviation Unit is not at full capacity, with 14 vacancies statewide. The department operates helicopters from bases in Cumberland, Frederick, Baltimore, Easton, Salisbury, Prince George's County and Southern Maryland, according to its website. Russo said the agency expects to add eight pilots in late August or early September. SOURCE: www.heraldmailmedia.com
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Mississippi Department to Launch UAS Program
The Vicksburg (MS) Police Department has received a Federal Aviation Administration certificate allowing it to conduct aircraft operations at or below an altitude of 400 feet. Police Chief Milton Moore said the department expects to purchase an unmanned aircraft system to operate at those flight levels before the budget year ends Sept. 30. He said police would be able to use the drone to help with crowd control at festivals, oversee suspicious individuals or vehicles, and ensure areas are safe before sending in officers. The chief and four other Vicksburg officers have had drone training. SOURCE: www.wtok.com
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NYPD Aviation Indispensable on Fourth of July
The New York Police Department Aviation Unit offered critical overhead support for police on the Fourth of July, including providing assistance in dealing with a protester perched on the Statue of Liberty. Two detectives from the NYPD Emergency Service Unit roped into a department helicopter and took off for Liberty Island after reports of the protester surfaced; the officers were ready to rappel to a location ground personnel couldn't reach. The airborne rescue eventually was deemed unnecessary, which allowed the Aviation Unit to resume its standard holiday operations. The NYPD Aviation Unit helps secure the nation's largest Fourth of July party beginning with a flyover. SOURCE: www.abc7ny.com
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Indiana First Responders Increasingly Rely on UAS
Indiana police and fire departments are increasingly using unmanned aircraft technology to help manage emergency situations, according to local news reports. While FAA implements its UAS Integration Pilot Program, public safety agencies in Indiana like the Noble County Sheriff’s Department are moving forward with UAS programs. For Indiana police and firefighters, the benefits and uses have already been demonstrated, according to Noble County Chief Pilot Shafter Baker. “I cannot state how much value and how much of a resource multiplier it has been for us,” he said. “I only wish we had the drones sooner than we had them.” Baker said other Indiana-based first responder groups have contacted him for advice on how to start their own UAS programs. SOURCE: www.thedrive.com
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Northern California Sheriff Faces Opposition to UAS Program
The Marin County (CA) Sheriff’s Office wants to launch an unmanned aircraft systems program but has faced criticism from citizens and some local officials. Sheriff’s Captain David Augustus said the program is set to begin in 60 to 90 days, but the department has not yet purchased any UAS or determined how many it will buy. “We’re still in the exploratory stage,” Augustus said. “We’re looking at two to three, maybe up to four.” The sheriff’s department has trained four pilots to fly UAS and expects to spend $20,000 to $25,000 on the program initially. During a mid-July board of supervisors meeting, a concerned citizen asked the board to “halt any future drone acquisition plans until there is a public forum justifying the need and implementing a limited use policy, which provides privacy protections from these surveillance systems.” California State Senator Jerry Hill has sponsored a bill that would require law enforcement agencies to have a use policy in place before the use of surveillance technology. The bill defines surveillance technology as “any electronic device or system with the capacity to monitor and collect audio, visual, locational, thermal, or similar information on any individual or group.” SOURCE: www.marinij.com
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Abu Dhabi Police Evaluates New Helicopters
The Abu Dhabi Police sent a delegation to Europe in early July to be briefed on international best practices and development expertise related to helicopters and their use in police operations. The group visited Airbus factories in Germany and France to evaluate the H145 helicopter. Officials said Abu Dhabi Police has a stated desire to comply with international best practices and implement the latest aviation technology. The delegation included Lieutenant Colonel Pilot Marwan Rashid Al Khidr, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Police Operations Sector, and Lieutenant Colonel Pilot Mohammed Obaid Hammad, director of the professional and technical training division. SOURCE: www.urdupoint.com
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APSA Welcomes New MembersAPSA would like to welcome the following corporate and individual members who joined during July 2018: Corporate Members: AXON Individual Members: David Acunto, Westminster (CO) Police Department
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During their annual General Membership Meeting last month in Louisville, APSA announced the results of their logo contest and revealed the winning design. Announced in January, the purpose of the contest was to design a new logo to complete APSA’s rebranding process. It called for designs that better to define the Association’s presence in the public safety arena, encompassing recognizable elements representing all disciplines serving public safety interest with aircraft including Firefighting, SAR, EMS, Natural Resources, Public Utilities, and Emergency Management, as well as recognizing the long-standing relationship with law enforcement aviation. In addition, the design was to demonstrate a commitment to the APSA motto: “To Serve, Save & Protect From the Air.”
Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSP) aircraft helped ground units make four arrests in two incidents on July 20. The aircraft, used to track vehicles failing to comply with traffic stops, helped arrest a 23-year-old on charges of obstructing official business and a parole violation, a 28-year-old for obstructing official business, a 39-year-old for obstructing official business, failure to comply, improper use of concealed firearms, and having weapons while under disability, and a 22-year-old for obstructing official business and failure to comply.
Kopter and Metro Aviation introduced the new SH09 multi-mission helicopter in an advanced public safety configuration at APSCON 2018 in early July. The second prototype of Kopter's SH09 helicopter was unveiled at HAI Heli-Expo 2018. Kopter’s SH09 law enforcement display was equipped with cutting-edge surveillance and illumination capability in the form of the TRAKKA Systems A800 searchlight, TC-300 4-axis imaging system, and TM-100 3-D augmented reality mapping and recording system. When combined with a loiter capability of more than four hours and aided by a fully enclosed tail rotor, the systems offer a stealthy platform ideal for extended surveillance, pursuits and air-to-ground operations support over extended crime scenes.
Did you know that APSA has a YouTube channel for members to share videos? Please subscribe to our channel and post some videos of your own. 
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| APSA E-Newsletter Staff | |
| Dan Schwarzbach, Editor | dschwarzbach@PublicSafetyAviation.org |
| Lisa Wright, Editorial Director | airbeat@PublicSafetyAviation.org |
| APSA, Publisher | webmaster@PublicSafetyAviation.org |
| Andrea Capwell, Ad Sales | acapwell@PublicSafetyAviation.org |
This newsletter is published monthly by the Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA), a non-profit Delaware corporation. APSA is comprised of air crew and air support personnel in public safety and others who support, promote, and advance the safe and effective use of aircraft by governmental agencies in support of public safety operations.
© Copyright 2018 by the Airborne Public Safety Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this newsletter in whole or in part without written permission from the Editor is prohibited. Product and corporate names mentioned in this newsletter are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA), its Board of Directors, staff or membership; nor shall their publication imply endorsement on the part of APSA of any content or claims made therein. APSA disclaims all warranties, express or implied, and makes no judgment regarding the accuracy of posted information. In no event will APSA be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, special or consequential damages resulting from the publication or any subsequent public distribution thereof.
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