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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.

ALEA Rebrands to Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA)

As a final step in a multi-year effort to better serve all public safety airborne operations, the Airborne Law Enforcement Association (ALEA) became the Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA) on Jan. 1, 2018. The change is part of an overall effort to embrace all government public safety organization aviation units as well as expand the organization’s services for its members.

“The ALEA board felt, as I have for many years, that public safety aviation extends well beyond law enforcement,” said Dan Schwarzbach, APSA CEO and Executive Director. “With this change, we are completing a process that will allow us to become outwardly more inclusive of all who operate government aircraft for the welfare of the general public.”

APSA Safety Seminar Set for February in Florida

APSA will hold its next safety seminar, available free of charge for all active members and for a fee to non-members, Feb. 6-8 in Miramar Beach, FL, at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa. The seminar will cover a wide range of topics through informative training classes, as well as roundtable discussions, and offer a mini-tradeshow and networking opportunities.

Registration for the event is open now, and the deadline to reserve a room at the special discounted rate is Jan. 22.

HRRA Merges with APSA; APSA to Host Rescue Summit

APSA is pleased to announce that effective January 1, 2018, the Helicopter Rescue & Response Association (HRRA) has been merged into APSA.  This merger is a direct result of the rebranding of the Airborne Law Enforcement Association (ALEA) as the Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA).  According to a letter sent to HRRA members by their former president, Nick Granelli, prior to the merger, "The HRRA Board feels that a merger with APSA will ultimately increase the resources, visibility, and access to information of HRRA members.  APSA brings a team of professionals that can assist with logistics, administrative duties, training coordination, summit presenters, website/social media support and sponsorships.  HRRA members will also benefit from forums, training teleconferences, magazine subscriptions, scholarship opportunities, increased networking opportunities and the ability to attend any APSA training events nationwide.  HRRA has established a reputation and foundation for search and rescue operations worldwide, and will reach more operators across multiple disciplines with this merger."

APSA Executive Director/CEO Dan Schwarzbach stated, 'We welcome the HRRA membership of rescue specialists and subject matter experts in the SAR field.  They add a new dimension to our Education & Training Program.  APSA members will definitely benefit from their experience and expertise."

HRRA's premier event has been their annual Helicopter Rescue Summit, which will now be produced and hosted by APSA.  As in the past, this event will continue to be conducted in conjunction with HELI-EXPO.  This year's Rescue Summit will take place on Monday, February 26, in Las Vegas, NV.  To find out more about Rescue Summit 2018, view the agenda and/or register for the event, click here.  To find out more about being a Rescue Summit 2018 sponsor, contact Benay Osborne at 301-631-2406 or bosborne@publicsafetyaviation.org.

SOURCE: Airborne Public Safety Association

Gregg Weitzman, Longtime ALEA Member & Santa Barbara County's First Helicopter Pilot, to Retire

The Santa Barbara County (CA) Sheriff’s Office’s first helicopter pilot is set to retire in early 2018. Sergeant Gregg Weitzman, a member of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff/Fire Air Support Unit and longtime director on the Airborne Law Enforcement Association Board of Directors, will leave the department after almost 35 years of service.

“We are sorry to see such a knowledgeable and experienced member of the Sheriff’s Office retire but appreciate Gregg’s long-standing efforts to provide public safety air support to the people of Santa Barbara County,” Sheriff Bill Brown said. “I wish him well in all future endeavors.”

Weitzman’s first introduction to the Sheriff’s Office was as a reserve deputy while attending college. In 1996, he was assigned as the first helicopter pilot for the new air support unit. During his career, Weitzman logged 5,950 hours of accident-free flying in both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. Weitzman has received more than 150 letters of commendation and was named Deputy of the Year in 1999. He is also the recipient of two H. Thomas Guerry Awards for Valor for nighttime flying incidents involving dangerous conditions. Weitzman is a flight instructor for both helicopters and airplanes, as well as an advanced ground instructor. Weitzman is the co-founder of Project: Rescue Flight, which has raised more than $3 million to help rebuild rescue aircraft for Santa Barbara County and for related equipment costs.

SOURCE: www.syvnews.com

LAFD Use UAS for First Time During Deadly Fires

The Los Angeles (CA) Fire Department (LAFD) dispatched unmanned aircraft systems for the first time in December as firefighters took on the Skirball fire in Bel-Air. “[UAS] provide real-time situational awareness from a bird’s eye perspective to the incident commander so they can see what’s going on at their emergency and then change their tactics accordingly to mitigate the hazards,” said Captain Erik Scott, an LAFD spokesman. Firefighters used two DJI Matrice 100 drones during the Skirball fire, Scott said. One employed a high-definition camera to survey the burn area; the other used an infrared camera to assess hot spots.

The Skirball fire, sparked by a cooking fire in a homeless encampment, destroyed six homes and burned more than 400 acres. The Los Angeles City Council this summer voted to let LAFD start seeking Federal Aviation Administration authorization to use drones, despite objections from groups concerned about privacy rights.

SOURCE: www.latimes.com

U.K. Police Given More Power Over UAS

As the U.S. grapples with its unmanned aircraft systems laws and regulations, similar rules are becoming stricter in the U.K. In late November 2017, Aviation Minister Baroness Sugg presented a draft of a drone bill that would, among other things, give police departments more power over UAS pilots to prevent the unsafe or criminal use of unmanned aircraft. The intent is “to ensure the U.K. remains at the forefront of the exciting and fast-growing drones market, while putting the correct legislative framework in place to guarantee it is also safe and secure.”

The new measures would provide police officers with the right to order pilots to ground their UAS when necessary and seize drone parts to prove aircraft were used to commit offenses. Additionally, the bill would make it mandatory for UAS owners to register their devices.

SOURCE: www.expouav.com

Israel Police Receives New Airbus H145 Advanced Choppers

The Israel Police completed the second phase of its helicopter upgrade project and the acquisition of two advanced helicopters. An official ceremony was held with Deputy Police Commissioner Zohar Dvir and Commander of the Air Police Division, Nir Rosenthal, in attendance. The new twin-engine Airbus H145 helicopters will arrive in Israel in the coming weeks. The aircraft will form part of the national firefighting apparatus and will be able to carry water and help extinguish fires and deploy responders during an emergency.

The project, led by the Internal Security Ministry, is estimated to cost about a half-billion shekels over a 20-year period, including ongoing purchase and maintenance of the helicopters. Commander of the Air Division, Brigadier General Nir Rosenthal, said, "We just received helicopters that will open up new areas of activity and will provide the Israel Police with improved operational capabilities that will be optimal and appropriate to the challenges facing us. The new helicopters will provide the Israel Police and the Fire and Rescue Authority with the ability to transport forces and cargo to any point in the country at any point in time."

The modern helicopters have advanced operational capabilities, including the ability to fly in longer sections and increased maneuverability, carrying and flying more commanders and combatants (to countries outside of Israel), carrying water to extinguish fires, and upgrading the technological capabilities that direct police forces operating on the ground in a variety of tasks. In this way, the police will complete the process of aerial buildup with the replacement of the entire fleet of old helicopters, four H125 helicopters and two powerful H145 helicopters.

Source:  www.theyeshivaworld.com

Drone Pilot Arrested for Dropping Leaflets Over NFL Games

A 55-year-old Northern California man was arrested on misdemeanor charges for flying a drone over two NFL games last year and dropping anti-media leaflets over the stadiums. The first was Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco, followed by another attempt 30 miles away at the Oakland Coliseum.

Federal and local laws prohibit flying drones near games, and authorities are examining additional ways to prevent the unmanned aircraft from hovering over crowds, Santa Clara Police Department Lt. Dan Moreno said. The biggest concern is a drone injuring spectators, Moreno said. "Those blades are sharp and spinning fast," he said, adding that authorities also are concerned with terrorists arming drones, though no such attack has been reported in the United States.

Source: www.seattletimes.com

Lost Everglades Hikers Rescued by Helicopter

A Collier County (FL) Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit helicopter crew located two hikers lost in the Big Cypress National Preserve as part of a joint rescue effort with the National Park Service and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue on Dec. 8, 2017. The Collier County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call about the hikers early that morning, and the agency dispatched its Aviation Unit to find the men. Big Cypress rangers and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue helped with the search.

According to the Sheriff's Office, the men got lost after trying for several days to navigate a waterlogged section of the Florida Trail. The Sheriff's Office eventually found the hikers, and a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue helicopter hoisted the pair to safety. Neither of the men was injured; watch the rescue here.

SOURCE: www.usatoday.com

Alzheimer’s/Autism Group Gives UAS to Alabama Sheriff

The Montgomery County (AL) Sheriff’s Office recently received an unmanned aircraft system as a gift from the Alzheimer's and Autism Outreach Group (AOG). AOG donated the search and rescue drone, a standard kit modified with specialized thermal imaging technology, for emergency response situations, particularly to help those suffering from conditions that can cause them to leave home and become disoriented.

“This is another tool in our arsenal that will allow us to bring loved ones home,” Montgomery County Sheriff Derrick Cunningham said. AOG gifted a DJI Inspire drone to the Dallas County (AL) Sheriff's Office in July 2016 and hopes to eventually outfit more police departments around the state.

SOURCE: www.montgomeryadvertiser.com

Florida Aviation Unit Lands, Chases Down Suspect

Pasco County (FL) Sheriff’s Office Pilots Stephen Bowman and Tim Bullis landed in a community center parking lot in early December and chased down a suspect after he allegedly aimed a laser at them from the ground. Police said the suspect blinded the crew temporarily as they were helping deputies apprehend the barricaded man.

“The suspect aiming the laser at the aircraft was blinding the pilot and causing a hazard while interfering with the mission of the aircraft,” a department statement said. “The pilot was forced to disengage from the primary mission and address the laser suspect.” Police arrested the 27-year-old for misuse of laser lighting devices. He confessed to the crime and was released on $5,000 bail.

SOURCE: www.abcnews.go.com

Fundraiser Set for Troopers Killed in Charlottesville Crash

The Metro Richmond (VA) Police Emerald Society will host a memorial fundraiser on Jan. 6 for the families of two state troopers killed in a helicopter crash outside Charlottesville last summer. The event is open to the public and will feature live entertainment. The fundraiser is to benefit the families of Virginia State Police Trooper Pilot Berke M.M. Bates, 40, and Lieutenant Pilot H. “Jay” Cullen III, 48, who were killed in the line of duty Aug. 12 while helping law enforcement monitor a white nationalist rally and counter-protests in Charlottesville. Both men were assigned to the Virginia State Police Aviation Unit.

The Virginia State Police Association is also accepting donations in the names of the family. If you wish to donate, visit http://vspa.org/initiatives/emergency-relief-fund and make sure to put in the comment line the family you would like to support or if you would like it equally disbursed between the two.

SOURCE: www.richmond.com

Gwinnett County Approves New Helicopter Purchase

Nearly four months after one of its two helicopters was destroyed in a crash that left two officers severely injured, the Gwinnett County Police Department’s request for a replacement was approved. The purchase will include a new MD 530F helicopter from MD Helicopters Inc. for $2.8 million and avionics installation from Rotor Resources LLC for just under $1.1 million. Insurance from the crashed helicopter will cover nearly $2.25 million while the remaining nearly $1.7 million will come from the Police Tax Contingency Fund.

The county has done work with MD Helicopters before. Two years ago, officials used the company to strip down and rebuild the police department’s helicopters from the frame up with new equipment as an alternative to replacing them. The avionics system in the new helicopter will include a FLIR infrared camera system and monitor, moving maps, a communications system, GPS and night vision capabilities.

Source: www.gwinnettdailypost.com

Indiana Sheriff Touts Success of UAS Program

The Tippecanoe County (IN) Sheriff’s Department said during a press conference in early December its unmanned aircraft systems have begun to have success, from locating a suspect hidden in thick brush to recreating crash scenes. On Dec. 2, a man pulled a gun and threatened to shoot and kill another person before fleeing into a nearby bog. Police were able to track and apprehend the man with the use of a UAS operated by Lieutenant Robert Hainje, one of six county sheriff officers trained to pilot drones.

The Sheriff’s Office has been working closely with Purdue University to learn innovative ways to use the unmanned aircraft. Police Captain Terry Riley, who took the lead on the UAS program, said a bird’s eye view of crashes can expedite the time it takes to clear the vehicles and return traffic to normal. “The crash rate goes up by a factor of 24 when you have stopped traffic on the interstate,” said John Bullock, one of the Purdue professors at the press conference. “Every minute you can reduce the stopped traffic, you have a big impact on safety.”

SOURCE: www.purdueexponent.org

Riverside County Deputies Win HAI Award

Riverside County (CA) Sheriff's Department Deputies Eric Bashta and Jerry Osterloh were named the winners of the Helicopter Association International (HAI) Salute to Excellence MD Helicopters Law Enforcement Award in early December. The officers will receive the award at HAI's Salute to Excellence Awards Dinner at HAI HELI-EXPO 2018 in Las Vegas next month.

On Jan. 11, 2017, TFO Osterloh and Pilot Bashta responded to a call for assistance by a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer who had stopped a suspected DUI/reckless driver. As the helicopter approached the scene, Osterloh observed the driver remove a rifle from the cab of his pickup truck and begin firing at the patrol officer and his vehicle. Osterloh and Bashta provided oversight and direction throughout the ensuing engagement, which ended when a SWAT deputy took the suspect down.

Officers believe the suspect intended a murder/suicide. Due to the efforts of Bashta and Osterloh, no officers or members of the public were injured, and the suspect's girlfriend and children were also uninjured.

In addition to the HAI award, Bashta and Osterloh were the recipients of ALEA’s 2017 Captain “Gus” Crawford Memorial Aircrew of the Year Award, presented during ALEA EXPO 2017 in July in Reno, NV.

SOURCE: www.rotor.org

Tucson Police Department Contracts for Maintenance Support

The Tucson (AZ) Police Department Air Support Unit has contracted for component repair and overhaul and parts services for its fleet of Bell JetRanger 206B3 helicopters. The department selected Able Aerospace Services, a subsidiary of Textron Aviation Inc., to provide the support.

The Tucson Police Department Air Support Unit helicopters typically log up to 500 hours each per year. Operating from a 200,000-square-foot headquarters in Mesa, AZ, Able offers more than 10,000 FAA-approved repairs and overhauls, some of the world’s largest rotatable exchange inventories and in-house specialized services ranging from electroplating, chemical processing, machining and grinding, to NDT testing, hydraulics and bearings services.

SOURCE: www.rotor.org

Maine Police Department to Spot Railroad Trespassers With UAS

A plan by the Brunswick (ME) Police Department and the Federal Railroad Administration could make the department the first in the country to use unmanned aircraft systems to patrol for trespassers along railroad tracks. The project also would make the Brunswick Police Department the first in Maine to use UAS to search for potential criminal activity, rather than at a crime scene or crash site. “This device will only be used for detection, not enforcement,” said Desiree French, a spokeswoman for the railroad administration.

Amtrak’s Downeaster line currently ends in Brunswick, and if plans are approved to extend service to Rockland, police would have to patrol an extra four miles of track. But aspects of the initiative are still up the air. Federal funding to buy the UAS equipment has not been approved, and Brunswick police must create a local drone-usage policy for the department and sign a deal with federal authorities to use unmanned technology. Police hope to have the program up and running by early summer 2018.

SOURCE: www.pressherald.com

Oklahoma Police Department Launches UAS

The Broken Arrow (OK) Police Department (BAPD) has implemented an unmanned aircraft system to help its officers better survey incident scenes and provide tactical support. The department’s Police Academy Alumni Association donated the $2,500 UAS, and the agency announced its availability on Dec. 11, 2017.

BAPD listed the UAS program’s uses as tactical situations, crime and crash scene investigations, search and rescue operations, emergency management scenarios and public relations. The UAS won’t be deployed for routine patrol functions, warrantless searches or as a weapons platform, said Officer James Koch, a department spokesman.

“We do not want this to be a secret to people,” Koch said. “The police department is not out to spy on anyone. There’s not going to be any surveillance conducted.” The UAS most often will be put into action to help at crime scenes or during investigations of severe crashes.

SOURCE: www.tulsaworld.com

Cal Fire Will Move Forward With Black Hawk Purchase

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) will continue with plans to acquire new Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk helicopters after an unsuccessful contract protest by Leonardo Helicopters. Leonardo filed its protest with California’s Department of General Services in August, after the agency announced it would award a contract to Air Methods/United Rotorcraft for up to a dozen Black Hawks at approximately $20 million each. Leonardo, the other final bidder, had submitted its new AW189 for the contract.

The Black Hawks will replace Cal Fire’s aging fleet of Bell UH-1H helicopters. At the time of the original contract award in August, a spokesperson noted California has seen “a drastic increase in the number of large damaging fires”—a trend that has continued since. Cal Fire anticipates acquiring 12 aircraft over a five-year period.

SOURCE: www.verticalmag.com 

Virginia Sheriff Uses UAS to Find Lost 92-Year-Old

When a 92-year-old hunter was stranded overnight in a heavily wooded area of Virginia, authorities were unable to locate the man until they brought in an unmanned aircraft system. The Shenandoah County (VA) Sheriff’s Office and Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office search and rescue team deployed the UAS the morning after the man went missing and found him in about 20 minutes. It was the first successful use of the technology since the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office launched the UAS in September.

The UAS that ultimately located the man is the first in Virginia, and the sixth in the country, to be equipped with a special antenna for participants in the Project Lifesaver program. The program is designed to find people with medical conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, that may cause them to wander from home. Program participants wear a wristband that emits a locating signal the drone’s antenna can pick up. The 92-year-old man was not wearing a Project Lifesaver wristband when he was found.

SOURCE: www.washingtonpost.com

Sonoma County Sheriff’s Helicopter Rescues Man on Cliff

The Sonoma County (CA) Sheriff’s Office Henry 1 helicopter rescued a Southern California man stuck 300 feet above San Francisco Bay near the Golden Gate Bridge on Dec. 16, 2017. When the Southern Marin Fire District and U.S. Park Police called the Sheriff’s Office for assistance, high winds complicated the rescue, but Henry 1 landed a deputy hanging from a 100-foot long line onto the cliff where the man was perched. The deputy secured the unidentified man to the bottom of the long-line, and he was flown to medical assistance nearby. The man was cold but otherwise uninjured.

SOURCE: www.pressdemocrat.com

Colombian National Police Contracts for Aviation Support

The National Police of Colombia Aviation Unit has placed an order for $423 million in airborne support for its rotary- and fixed-wing platforms. Aviation support provider PAE received the task order in late December. The company said it will provide administrative, technical, maintenance, training, safety, logistics and procurement services for 59 aircraft units that include Bell 206 helicopters, C-208 Caravans, UH-1HIIs, UH-60Ls and UH-60As. PAE CEO John Heller said the company has supported the Colombian National Police’s aviation operations since 2012. The task order contains a one-year base performance period, seven option years and an additional six-month extension. PAE will perform work at three fixed bases and several mobile bases across Colombia.

SOURCE: www.govconwire.com

Australia’s Queensland Police Increasingly Rely on UAS

According to a new report, Australia’s Queensland Police Service (QPS) launched unmanned aircraft systems 52 times during the past year, and the aircraft logged more than 60 hours of flight time. Inspector Phil Stevens said QPS was the first agency to use a drone operationally in Australia, when the Special Emergency Response Team used one during a siege.

Providing footage for investigations from homicides and police shootings to drug deals and traffic accidents, the unmanned aircraft are also being used to map terrain. QPS now has a fleet of more than 10 drones, and Stevens said they even could be used to briefly stand in for a police helicopter while it refueled.

SOURCE: www.couriermail.com.au

U.K. Units Add Two High-Tech UAS

The U.K.’s County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service and Durham Constabulary are working together on a new unmanned aircraft systems project, the first of its kind in the country. Police and fire crews now have two state-of-the-art UAS, capable of providing a live feed to a tablet computer on the ground, intended to fight crime and save lives.

“The greater use of drones to ensure we can make people safe is a really exciting joint venture,” Durham Constabulary Chief Constable Mike Barton said. “They are so agile, produce superb quality pictures and are such good value.”

The two units, with camera gear capable of taking 10 megapixel stills and 4k video footage, cost almost $35,000. Five firefighters and three police officers have been trained as pilots. Both organizations plan to train more operators. The drones, which have a total range of 5 km, will be used in accordance with the Civil Aviation Authority standards and permissions and each pilot’s training reflects appropriate guidance from the administration.

SOURCE: www.thenorthernecho.co.uk

APSA Has A New YouTube Channel!

LET'S GET SOCIAL! APSA is ready to connect with you.  Send in your videos and we will share them on all our social media platforms.  Don't forget to follow us on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter! 

APSA Welcomes New Members

APSA would like to welcome the following corporate and individual members who joined during December 2017:

Corporate Members:

Helicopter Flight Training Center
Longhorn Helicopters
Outerlink

Individual Members:

Tanya Atkinson, Colorado Bureau of Investigation
Joe Becker, Lafayette (LA) Parish Sheriff's Office
Matt Benedict, Red, White & Blue Fire Protection District (CO)
John Blunt, Brighton (CO) Fire Rescue
Rafael Borroto, Miami (FL) Police Department
Erick Bryant, Colorado Bureau of Investigation
Ryan Buderus, Platte Valley (CO) Fire Protection District
Sharon Burlingame, Mesa (AZ) Police Department Aviation Section
Chris Burns, Colorado Springs Police Department
Michael Bush, Pinellas County (FL) Sheriff's Office Flight Unit
Jeramy Butler, Hillsborough County (FL) Sheriff's Office
Joel Charette, Denver (CO) Police Crime Laboratory
Alex Dill, Adams County (CO) Fire Rescue
Kevin Emberg, Walker County (AL) Sheriff's Office
Michael Gibson, US Coast Guard
SJ Hamit, Summit County (CO) Sheriff's Office
Dennis Honeycutt, Colorado Bureau of Investigation
Dax Jimenez, Adams County (CO) Fire Rescue
Steve Kunst, Englewood (CO) Police Department
Joshua La Pointe, California Highway Patrol
Christopher Laird, Lancaster County (NE) Sheriff's Office
David Maikranz, Westminster (CO) Fire Department
Philip McBride, Indiana State Police
Jerry Means, Colorado Bureau of Investigation
Dusty Moore, Avionics Solutions, LLC
Yon Nunez, Independent Member
Perry Otero, Adams & Jefferson County (CO) Hazardous Response Authority
Mel Patterson, Aerial Visions Pro LLC
Emily Philip, Colorado Bureau of Investigation
Michael Reid, Arvada (CO) Police Department
Steve Rhode, Wake Forest (NC) Fire Department
Eduardo Sarquiz, Secretaria De Seguridad Publica Municipal (MEX)
Harold Stewart, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department (Ret.)
A.C. Stutson, Westminster (CO) Police Department
Brian Taylor, Englewood (CO) Police Department
Robert Tuten, Beaufort County (SC) Sheriff's Office
Bret Williamson, Adams County (CO) Fire Rescue
David Wimer, DHS-Federal Air Marshal Service
Jeff Wofford, Westminster (CO) Fire Department
David Yocum, Colorado Bureau of Investigation