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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.

Police Helicopter Crash Takes Life of Officer Pilot

On February 20, 2022, the Huntington Beach (CA) Police Department Air Support Unit helicopter, HB-1, crashed into the waters off Newport Beach with two pilot officers onboard, resulting in the death of Officer Nicholas Vella and injuries to the other pilot.

HB-1 was responding to assist the Newport Beach Police Department with a priority call of a fight in progress at approximately 6:25 p.m. A few minutes later, HB-1 crashed into the water near Newport Beach. Multiple civilians, along with public safety personnel, jumped into the water to rescue the officers. Both officers were pulled from the helicopter and transported to area hospitals.

Surveillance video from a nearby home shows the helicopter making a spiral descent into the water. Witnesses said boaters rushed to pull the officers out of the helicopter, which landed upside down in shallow water.

The pilot, a 50-year old man and a 16-year veteran of the department, is in stable condition. Officer Vella, a 14-year veteran of HBPD, died from injuries he received in the crash. He leaves behind a wife and teenage daughter. Officer Vella, 44, was also an ASPA member for over five years. 

"There are no words that can express this loss adequately," said HBPD Chief of Police Eric Parra. "We are deeply grieving for Officer Vella's family, and as a police department, we grieve as well."

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Orange County Sheriff's Department's Major Accident Reconstruction Team are investigating the cause for the crash. "We look at not only what happened but we try to figure out why it happened," NTSB spokesperson Eric Weiss said, explaining that the agency’s investigative process looks at human, machine and environmental factors.

According to NTSB, the pilot reported mechanical problems moments before the chopper crashed into the water. The NTSB has taken possession of the helicopter, and it could take up to a year before releasing their findings on the exact cause of the accident.

The HBPD Air Support Unit was formed in 1968. Huntington Beach was the first city in Orange County and the fifth in the nation to use helicopters for public safety service, according to the city.

Sources: HBPD Press Release, latimes.com, APSA

APSA Seeks Safety Program Manager; Apply by March 18

The Airborne Public Safety Association is in search of a new APSA Safety Program Manager. APSA is requesting proposals from individuals or entities to provide comprehensive safety programming to public safety aviation agencies, personnel and managers as part of the ongoing APSA Safety Program.

The primary duties and responsibilities of the contracted APSA Safety Program Manager include developing an annual strategic plan regarding aviation safety for members and their agencies. The candidate will work with the APSA Training Program Manager on the presentation of safety education at APSA training events including, but not limited to, the annual conference, safety seminars, safety stand-tos and on-the-road courses with emphasis on current trends in aviation safety. The Safety Program Manager may also represent APSA at meetings such as those conducted by HAI, IACP, NSA, FAA, IHST, AUVSI and NTSB. The Safety Manager will moderate APSA's Safety Online Group bimonthly meetings, as well as other responsibilities that can be found here. 

All proposals, along with a resume or curriculum vitae, should be emailed to Dan Schwarzbach, APSA CEO/Executive Director {link to dschwarzbach@publicsafetyaviation.org}. The deadline for inquiries and submissions is Friday, March 18, 2022. All questions regarding this RFP should be sent to dschwarzbach@publicsafetyaviation.org. APSA is an equal opportunity employer.

APSA Awards & Scholarships: Nominations & Applications by May 1

Help us recognize an APSA member for their contributions to public safety aviation or your child for their academic excellence. The APSA awards recognize those individuals whose personal efforts or actions have perpetuated the professionalism and advancement of public safety aviation. The awards that APSA presents annually are:

• Robert L. Cormier Award
• Captain 'Gus' Crawford Memorial Aircrew of the Year Award
• Technical Specialist Award
• Safety Award
• Fixed-Wing Operator Award
• Tactical Flight Officer (TFO) Award
• Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Award

Additionally, this year APSA provides eighteen (18) scholarships totaling $44,000 to recognize the academic excellence of our members' children. APSA funds twelve (12) regional scholarships, which provide $2,500 to each recipient. The remaining six (6) scholarships, like our awards, are funded through the generosity of some very special APSA supporters, providing $1,500 to $2,500 to each recipient.

Scholarship recipients will be recognized at the annual General Membership Meeting during APSCON 2022 on Thursday, July 28. Award winners will be honored at the APSCON 2022 Awards Reception on Friday, July 29. The deadline for receipt of award nominations and scholarship applications is Sunday, May 1, 2022.

For more information about our Awards and Scholarships Program, or to submit award nominations and scholarship applications, visit the APSA website. If you have any questions or need further information, contact Executive Director/CEO Dan Schwarzbach. Don't miss these great opportunities ...they only come around once a year!

APSCON 2022 and APSCON Unmanned - Save the Date

APSCON 2022 and APSCON Unmanned, formerly the Public Safety Drone EXPO, are scheduled for Reno, Nevada this year, the week of July 25-30. These events will take place simultaneously at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino and the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.  Start making plans now to take advantage of the best public safety aviation training anywhere, no matter what you fly!  More information is coming soon – save the dates.  And keep checking our website for the most up to date information. 

NIST's UAS Standard Test Methods Training Courses Offered Through APSA

APSA is offering both the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Basic and Advanced sUAS Standard Test Methods Proctor Training Courses. In both courses, attendees will learn how to fabricate apparatuses, conduct trials, and embed them into their own training and credentialing programs.

The Basic Course covers two of the four different NIST "test lanes": Basic Proficiency Evaluation for Remote Pilots (Part 107 qualification) and Open Test Lane.  In addition, everyone who successfully completes the course will have the opportunity to become an APSA Basic Proficiency Evaluation for Remote Pilots (BPERP) flight evaluation proctor.

The Advanced Course addresses managing the NIST obstructed and confined test lanes, night operations, beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations and embedding apparatus within scenarios. Ideally, attendees will have previously completed the APSA NIST Basic sUAS Standard Test Methods Proctor Training Course.

Both courses consist of 24 hours of classroom and hands-on flight instruction and evaluation at a cost of $575. Upcoming NIST courses scheduled to date are:

Basic Courses

• April 22-24: Cape May Courthouse, NJ.
• May 13-15: Spokane County, WA.
• June 3-5: Pasco County, FL
• September 16-18: Shelby, NC
• October 6-8: Fort Wayne, IN

Advanced Courses

• March 30 - April 1: Burnet, TX
• October 7-9: Creve Coeur, MO
• October 27-29: Niceville, FL
• December 9-11: Grand Forks, ND
   

The NIST sUAS Standard Test Methods are an excellent way to add a sUAS pilot flight skills credentialing component to your sUAS program.  Attendees to these courses should be experienced sUAS pilots who want to hone their skills, evaluate sensor systems and/or have a desire to train and evaluate other sUAS pilots.  Register today!

If your agency is interested in hosting one of these courses and receiving a free set of NIST sUAS Test Methods apparatus along with complimentary registration, contact APSA Training Program Manager Don Roby.

New Museum Exhibit Showcases the Power and Impact of Law Enforcement Aviation

The National Law Enforcement Museum unveiled a virtual exhibit on Feb. 21 called "Eyes to the Sky: A Century of Law Enforcement Aviation and Airborne Public Safety". This is the nation's first professionally curated exhibit about law enforcement aviation, and it showcases pilots, paramedics, and other law enforcement aviation experts that keep us safe from above. The museum is providing virtual access to the exhibit free of charge.

The NLEM exhibit, curated by the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, takes guests on a trip through time to learn about the rich and varied history of law enforcement airplanes, helicopters and drones. This exhibit dives even more deeply into the efforts of departments around the country that spearheaded the effort to add helicopters to the law enforcement toolkit, and serves as an exploration of how helicopters have played an important role in the ways that law enforcement keeps communities safe.

APSA is acknowledged at the beginning of the exhibit and Air Beat is cited in the credits at the end. Several APSA members stepped up to assist in this project and deserve to be acknowledged: Glenn Daley (NYPD), Ken Solosky (NYPD) and Jim Di Giovanna (LASD). And  Zack Mullikin, Air Beat Art Director, combed the archives, providing photos and stories. "While there is so much more to the public safety aviation story, this is a good start and nice tribute to some of the pioneering agencies," said APSA Executive Director/CEO Dan Schwarzbach.

Source: National Law Enforcement Museum

Sign Up: Monthly Webinar Training Series Free for Members

As part of the education and training program for 2022, APSA is conducting a series of webinars, one a month with the exception of June-August. Recognizing the need to provide training to those members who may not be able to travel to in-person APSA events, these webinars continue the series of live, online training originally brought about by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Scheduled for Thursdays, 1:00-2:30 pm EST, the upcoming schedule and topics in this series are:

• March 24:  Safety Update 2022 | Bryan Smith, APSA Safety Program Manager
• April 21:  Fleeing Suspect Tactics | Nick Minx, Tactical Flying, Inc.
• May 19: Critical Incident Reviews – Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Drone Unit, Rose Lopez, Alameda County Sheriff’s Office

Registration for these webinars is open. To register, simply click on the webinar(s) you'd like to participate in and complete the registration form. These webinars are offered free of charge to APSA members. 

Interested in sponsoring one or more of these webinars and marketing to the participants?  Contact Benay Osborne by email or call her at 301-631-2406 for details.

Philippine Police Helicopter Crashes Near Resort Island

A Philippine National Police helicopter crashed on Feb. 21 as it was flying to pick up the country's police chief, killing a crewmember and injuring the two pilots. Tragically, the H125 Airbus helicopter was found to have crashed in the town of Real, Quezon, where conditions were rainy at the time of the accident. Police and firefighters reached the crash site and rescued the pilot and co-pilot, who were taken to a hospital with injuries, but the third crewmember was pinned in the wreckage and died while rescuers were trying to revive him.

The helicopter was flying to Balesin Island to pick up PNP Police Chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos and his companions. Carlos was scheduled to fly back to Manila on a commercial flight to attend a flag-raising ceremony, but the flight became unavailable and the police aviation unit offered to take him by helicopter, police spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said.

Carlos visited the two injured pilots at the hospital and one of them told him that they were maneuvering to land in clear weather “when suddenly a strong gust of wind lashed them and caused the helicopter to lose control," Fajardo told reporters. PNP Headquarters grounded the entire fleet of police helicopters while an investigation is underway in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, the Department of Transportation, and other concerned agencies.

Source: ABC News.go.com

APSA Safety Stand-Tos: Education & Networking

APSA conducts virtual Safety Stand-Tos online as well as in-person Safety Stand-Tos on an on-request basis for members at their facilities. The upcoming Safety Stand-To schedule is:

IN-PERSON | Michigan State Police | April 13, 2022

VIRTUAL | Firefighting | May 4, 2022

VIRTUAL | Canadian | September 28, 2022

VIRTUAL | Natural Resources | October 26, 2022

To schedule a Safety Stand-To in your area, please contact APSA Training Program Manager Don Roby at Droby@publicsafetyaviation.org or 717-870-9603.
 

Nebraska State Patrol Equips New Aircraft With Mission Suite

The Nebraska State Patrol’s new Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopter has been outfitted with an airborne law enforcement mission suite from CNC Technologies. Completed in partnership with Force Aviation, the state-of-the-art mission suite provides the NSP Aviation Support Division with a comprehensive patrol, surveillance and communications solution that is fully interoperable with the agency's existing aircraft and technology infrastructure.

For the new mission suite, CNC developed a custom solution matched to NSP's specific needs, incorporating an L3/Wescam MX10 imager, Shotover/Churchill Systems moving map, Airborne Displays monitor, Trakka TLX searchlight and Troll Systems microwave downlink system. Aircrews will be able to utilize the solution to stream uninterrupted HD video and data from the aircraft to commanders and officers on the ground, enhancing situational awareness, intelligence gathering and public safety efforts.

"CNC has a proven track record in building airborne law enforcement solutions for agencies across the US and around the world," said Lt. Brian Petersen of the Nebraska State Patrol. "They brought a deep understanding of the needs of our aircrews and commanders to the project, and we are pleased to partner with them in support of our public safety mission."

NSP took delivery of the aircraft after HELI-EXPO this week. CNC will provide ongoing training and 24/7 support for the new mission suite.

Source: CNC Technologies

Accepting Entries for Teledyne FLIR Vision Awards

The tactical use of airborne thermal imaging can be one of the most powerful tools available to law enforcement. The Teledyne FLIR Vision Awards, returning this year to APSCON, strive to recognize state and local law enforcement agencies for their contributions to public safety through the use of tactical, airborne thermal imagery. Help us honor the very best in airborne law enforcement use of EO/IR technology by entering.

Each year, Teledyne FLIR asks law enforcement to submit their video footage shot during rescues, pursuits, apprehensions and surveillance operations. Entries should highlight the tactical use of EO/IR technology and the importance of the airborne imaging system in the successful completion of the mission. The deadline for video submissions is May 13, 2022, and you can enter here.  Multiple entries from each department and airborne team are allowed. Include a brief outline of the incident and list the name, rank and position of each crewmember via the online submission form. All types of infrared and daylight videos will be considered for this award.

Footage from each winning video will be shown as part of the Teledyne FLIR Vision Awards ceremony, as well as highlights from all submitting agencies. Awards will be presented at APSCON 2022 on Thursday, July 28 in Reno, NV.

Source: Teledyne FLIR

Australia's QPS Upgrades POLAIR Fleet, Introduces Police Drones

The Queensland government announced a number of new upgrades to the state's aerial policing capabilities last month, including upgrading and increasing its POLAIR fleet and adding drones.

Three new Bell 429 helicopters will be welcomed into the Queensland Police Service (QPS) POLAIR fleet, which patrols southeast Australia, replacing the two older helicopters that have made up the fleet for nearly 10 years. The agency said the new aircraft "will deliver vastly improved safety, technology, camera and night vision capability".

The agreement also extends QPS's long-term contract with Surf Life Saving Queensland to operate POLAIR services by another 10 years to 2034, due to commence once the existing agreement expires in 2024. The agreement will also deliver Australia's first Bell 429 training simulator, which initially will be for the exclusive use of QPS POLAIR pilots.

QPS officers in Townsville and Cairns are preparing to take delivery of a number of new remotely piloted aircraft (RPAS) as part of a trial to explore the operational enhancements that drones can deliver. The new RPAS have enhanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities and include advancements like artificial intelligence technologies for tracking vehicles and sophisticated thermal imaging cameras for locating lost people.

The Queensland Premier said the new helicopters and drones represented a significant capability increase for police and an added protection for the community, particularly ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games. "The community will be able to feel safer knowing police have these new, state-of-the art resources," Palaszczuk said.

Source: www.australianaviation.com.au

Join APSA's Online Meeting Groups: Learn From Each Other

These meetings are open to any APSA member. Contract maintenance providers to APSA members are welcome to participate in the maintenance meeting as well. To receive meeting information and be added to the mailing list, send an email to safety@publicsafetyaviation.org.

The schedule for upcoming APSA online meetings is as follows:

• Safety Officers: Friday, March 18, 2022 from 1:00-2:00 PM EDT (1700 UTC)
• Natural Resources: Wednesday, March 30, 2022 from 1:00-2:00 PM EDT (1700 UTC)
• Maintenance:  Wednesday, April 6, 2022 from 1:00-2:00 PM EDT (1700 UTC)
• SAR: Wednesday, April 20, 2022 from 1:00-2:00 PM EDT (1700 UTC)
• UAS: Wednesday, May 11, 2022 from 1:00-2:00 pm EDT (1700 UTC)

U.S. FAA Administration Steve Dickson Resigns

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed his gratitude to Dickson "for his years of service to our country and his lifelong dedication to making sure our aviation system is the best and safest in the world." It has not yet been announced who will take the role as head of the FAA once Dickson leaves.

Source: skiesmag.com/news

Maryland's Trooper 5 Medevac Marks 40 Years

The Maryland State Police Cumberland Aviation Section will celebrate its 40th year of service to the citizens of Western Maryland in 2022. Overall, the Maryland State Police Aviation Command has celebrated 50 years of service to the state of Maryland. The helicopter section known as Trooper 5 was the fifth aviation base to be placed into service by the MSP and is one of seven bases operated within the state.

Since being placed into service in 1982, the base has moved into a larger more suitable hangar and was host to three different helicopter platforms. The section, which is based at the Greater Cumberland Regional Airport, serves Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties in Maryland. It is also called upon to assist neighboring counties within Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

MSP's Cumberland Aviation Section is staffed and ready for service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The section has a roster of 18 people, which includes civilian pilots, sworn trooper paramedics and aircraft maintenance personnel. Together, they fly the Leonardo AW-139 helicopter, which is configured to serve as a fully functioning advanced life support air ambulance. The advanced skills and training of the aircrew is an asset when dealing with the long distances that Trooper 5 frequently travels due to the unique rural landscape of the area.

Unlike the other helicopter bases, Trooper 5 is the only base stationed outside of Maryland and is the only state police helicopter that routinely operates over rugged and mountainous terrain. The Cumberland Aviation Section flew 144 emergency missions in 2021 that included 110 medevacs, 21 search and rescue and 13 law enforcement missions. This does not include the many training and outreach missions that are routinely conducted.

Source:  times-news.com

Man Accused of Shining Laser at Police Helicopter Apologizes

A 56-year-old south Florida man was arrested last month after he pointed a laser at a Broward County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) Aviation Unit helicopter. During a robbery investigation, video shows someone shining a green laser at the BCSO helicopter while it is flying overhead. The helicopter then shined its spotlight in the area of the light to indicate the location of the person using the laser, and ground officers detained him.

The affidavit stated that when police asked him what he had been doing with the laser, the man stated that he "wanted to have some fun" and was "just playing around." He also admitted to shining the laser at the helicopter a few times and said he was aware that performing that action could blind a person and cause the aircraft to crash. When the officer asked him where the laser currently was located, he said he had tossed it into a neighbor's bushes because he knew he was in trouble and was trying to hide it. Police retrieved the laser and confirmed it shined a green light.

The man was arrested and faces charges of pointing a laser at a driver or pilot and tampering with evidence. When he was released from jail, he apologized for his actions. "It just felt like a game. I was playing around," he said. "I want to apologize to the Broward Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit. I was wrong."

The FAA reported more than 9,700 laser strikes last year, which is the highest reported number of incidents ever.

Source:  www.wflx.com

First Female Pilot for West Virginia State Police Aviation

The West Virginia State Police (WVSP) selected its first female helicopter pilot last month. Trooper First Class Tiffani Huffman began her training at the West Virginia State Police Aviation Section in October 2021. TFC Huffman completed 43 hours of flight training, 10 of which were solo, 120 hours of ground training and countless hours of independent studying all while maintaining her normally assigned duties in the Aviation Section.

"This initial flight training is extremely challenging and requires the upmost of commitment and dedication to complete. TFC Huffman's skill, commitment, and dedication are second to none," said WVSP in a social media post. "TFC Huffman should be commended for successfully navigating this first phase of what we are confident will be the beginning of a productive and successful aviation career."

The WVSP Aviation Section has been operating since 1972.

Source: www.wboy.com/news

Grover Beach Launches New Drone Program

With four drones and three trained pilots, the Grover Beach (CA) Police Department will soon launch a new program that has been in the works for almost a year. "In about 30 seconds to a minute, we can get a drone up in the air," said Grover Beach Police Commander Jim Munro.

Munro said drones are becoming a standard tool for law enforcement. "It's like having a gun on your belt, a radio on your belt. If you don't have drones you're kind of behind the time," said Munro. Traditionally, helicopters have given officers an eye in the sky, but now drones can assist in many of the same tasks, from helping to locate a missing child to keeping track of a suspect on the run.

The Grover Beach Police Department currently will train five more remote pilots so they always have one on duty.

Source: www.ksby.com

Nominations Wanted For IACP Leadership in Police Aviation Award

The annual International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Leadership in Police Aviation Award recognizes public safety individuals and agencies that exemplify excellence in airborne law enforcement operations for both manned and unmanned aircraft operations in the law enforcement community. This award emphasizes initiatives that enhance general safety operations, accident prevention programs, and the efficiency and effectiveness of airborne law enforcement. Efforts eligible for recognition can range from the unit level to the national or international level, including rotary, fixed-wing, or unmanned aircraft operations. Any agency or individual that operates manned or unmanned aircraft is eligible to apply.

The deadline to submit a nomination for the IACP Leadership in Police Aviation Award is April 3, 2022.  For further information, contact awards@theIACP.org. 

AUVSI Rebrands With Name Change for Inclusion

AUVSI, a trade association for the autonomy, robotics and automated air, ground and maritime vehicle industries announced its name change to reflect ongoing efforts to promote gender inclusivity. The association is dropping the word "unmanned" and other gender-specific terms in its name, governing documents and association language.

The organization's name change to Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International is led by the association's commitment to supporting growth within new segments of the uncrewed systems community. "In 2022, AUVSI will reflect on lessons learned in the last 50 years and look toward the next 50 years of industry growth and evolution," said Brian Wynne, AUVSI Executive Director. "By launching the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Group and other new initiatives, AUVSI will continue to lead, engage and educate the community. Under our new identity and with a cohesive voice, AUVSI will advance our bold vision of an autonomous future in which uncrewed technologies are integrated into society and provide lasting public and economic benefits." 

The association was founded as the National Association for Remotely Piloted Vehicles (NARP-V) and rebranded as the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems in 1978, and added "International" in 1996 before changing before changing again last month to the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International. 

New programming and opportunities will be executed throughout the 50th anniversary year to build on the association's existing work to advocate for the establishment of laws and regulations that enable the advancement of uncrewed systems in the commercial and defense sectors, educate regulators and public on the benefits of these systems and connect the industry and stakeholders. 

Source: AUVSI

RAK Police's Air Wing Rescues Seven Tourists

The Ras Al Khaimah Police Department Air Wing, located in the United Arab Emirates, rescued seven Asian tourists last month. According to Colonel Pilot Saeed Rashid Al Yamahi, commander of the Air Wing, a distress call was received from seven tourists who apparently lost their way while they were on a mountainous trip in the Wadi Qada'ah area. It turned out that they were in a rugged area that could be reached only by a police helicopter, he said.

A rescue crew rushed in a helicopter to the scene where they found the exhausted tourists within a few minutes and provided them with the needed support, he added, noting that the they were taken back their vehicles after checking on them and ensuring they were safe.

Al Yamahi emphasized the need for people and tourists to avoid rugged areas in mountainous areas and valleys, noting that the Ras Al Khaimah Police's teams are fully ready to provide the best security services to all citizens, residents and visitors in need.

Source: www.gulftoday.ae

FAA Begins New Phase of Testing to Safely Integrate Drones into the National Airspace

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will begin field-testing new drone traffic management capabilities to further integrate these aircraft into the National Airspace System. The Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) Field Test, which will start in the spring of 2022, will allow the government and the drone community to continue improving standards, data-exchange methods and cyber security capabilities. 

UTM includes a set of services that are complementary to, but separate from, Air Traffic Management services for manned aircraft. It is targeted toward small unmanned aircraft operations in airspace, generally flying below 400 feet, and builds on current rules and capabilities that enable airspace access and authorization. The test outcomes will provide the FAA with critical information to support the development of new policies and for industry development of updated standards to allow drones to routinely fly beyond visual line of sight of the operators.

The FAA and its industry partners will conduct multiple drone flights in realistic test scenarios to learn more about how to manage drone traffic in varying environments. The flight tests will examine how the latest capabilities and standards will work to support the operations in the real world.

Source: FAA

MSP Video: Carjacking Suspect Taken Into Custody

A Michigan State Police Trooper 2 aircrew followed a carjacking suspect through streets and on foot to help the Detroit Police Department take him into custody. At one point during the pursuit on Feb. 25, the man's SUV pulled through a yard to change directions. A few minutes later, the man got out of the vehicle and helicopter video captured him throwing something into a yard. Detroit police recovered a handgun at that location. Video shared by MSP on social media shows the man climbing over multiple fences before two ground officers took him into custody.

Source: www.clickondetroit.com

Air Beat Would Like To Feature Your Aviation Unit; Contact Us

Most articles you read in APSA's Air Beat magazine come from members like you. With the help of our editorial staff, it's easy to spotlight the great work of your aviation unit with an article in Air Beat. (It's our editor's job to make you look good, so don't worry if you're not a writer.) Whether your missions involve law enforcement, emergency medical transport, natural resource conservation, firefighting, or search and rescue, or if you operate helicopters, fixed-wing or unmanned platforms, we'd love to hear from you. Email us at airbeat@publicsafetyaviation.org for information.

APSA Welcomes New Members

APSA's networking, education and training opportunities are unique and specialized for public safety aviation. Let your colleagues and friends know about APSA. Thank you for your membership and helping APSA continue to grow. We would like to welcome the following corporate and individual members who joined during February 2022:

Aviation Battery Systems, LLC
DJI Technology
Equinox Innovative Systems
IMSAR, LLC

Individual Members:

Rick Aikins, Canadian Helicopters Limited
Amy Alcala, Austin (TX) Police Department
Cory Allen, Riverside County (CA) Sheriff's Department | Aviation Unit
Mark Baggett, Canadian Helicopters Limited
David Barker, Idaho Falls Police Department
Francis Bassey, Anne Arundel County (MD) Police Department
Jason Beeman, Riverside County (CA) Sheriff's Department | Aviation Unit
Gary Boudreau, Oakland County (MI) Sheriff
Ron Brightwell, Denver (CO) Police Department
Benjamin Carswell, Alabama State Troopers
Atiba Celestine, New York State Police
Anson Creech, Florida Highway Patrol Air Support Unit
Eddie Cruz, Florida Highway Patrol Air Support Unit
Rachel David, Dothan (AL) Police Department
David DeAngelo, Pinellas County (FL) Sheriff's Office | SWAT
Corey DeBolt, Dale County (AL) Sheriff's Office
Louie DeSantis, Springfield Air (FL)
Brian Downs, Anaheim (CA) Police Department | Air Support
Michael Doyle, Riverside County (CA) Sheriff's Department | Aviation Unit
Michael Edwards, Riverside County (CA) Sheriff's Department | Aviation Unit
Jodie Esquibel, New Mexico State Police | Aviation Unit
Donovan Frazer, Alameda County (CA) Sheriff's Office | DPS
Ronnie Galindo, Napa County (CA) Sheriff's Office Aero Squadron
Greg Garza, NEXIO (TX)
Richard Gonzales, Oceanside (CA) Police Department
Elliott Guinn, New Mexico State Police | Aviation Unit
Derek Harger, San Antonio (TX) Police Department | Helicopter Detail
Don Hoover, Dallas County (TX) Sheriff's Office
Garren Kelly, Idaho Falls (ID) Police Department
Christopher Knight, Seminole County (FL) Sheriff's Office Aviation Section
Harley Lenart, Tennessee (TN) Bureau of Investigation
Ryan Lindner, Miami-Dade (FL) Police Department
Jim Little, Dale County (AL) Sheriff's Office
Justin Lococo, Volusia (FL) Sheriff’s Office
Rosario Lopez, Alameda County (CA) Sheriff's Office | Air Support
James Lyles, Maryland State Police Aviation Command
Thomas Mallow, Florida Highway Patrol Air Support Unit
Jason Masters, Washoe County (NV) Sheriff's Office | Aviation Operations
Josh McCann, Savannah-Chatham (GA) Police Department | Aviation Unit
Tim McDonald, Dale County (AL) Sheriff's Office
Dalton O'Rourke, Fairfax County (VA) Police Department Helicopter Division
Susie Peters, Dothan (AL) Police Department
Steve Petty, Petzl America (UT)
Joshua Phillips, Alameda County (CA) Sheriff's Office | DPS
Jeffrey Pollack, Florida Highway Patrol Air Support Unit
Rahmatullah Rahimi, Canadian Helicopters Limited
Michael Sailer, Yavapai County (AZ) Search and Rescue Air Group
Steve Salicos, Anaheim (CA) Police Department | Air Support
Dustin Schmidt, Oceanside (CA) Police Department
German Schroth, Canadian Helicopters Limited
Peter Serrano, Alameda County (CA) Sheriff's Office | Air Support
Shad Sitz, 44north aviation services (OR)
Richard Smith, Los Angeles County (CA) Regional Training Center
Lindsey Smith, Maricopa County (AZ) Sheriff's Office
Joseph Smith, NYPD Technical Assistance Response Unit
Dean Smith, Canadian Helicopters Limited
Stephen Sparks, Salinas (CA) Police Department
Tim Stange, Savannah-Chatham (GA) Police Department | Aviation Unit
Adam Stovall, Stanislaus County (CA) Sheriff's Department | Air Support Unit
Erik Then, Boston (MA) Fire Department
Jason Tilley, Riverside County (CA) Sheriff's Department | Aviation Unit
D.J. Torres, Florida Highway Patrol Air Support Unit
Paul Vermast, CE Avionics Inc. (FL)
Jeremy White, Riverside County (CA) Sheriff's Department | Aviation Unit
Ronald Williams-Garcia, Angels of Mercy Flight, Inc. (PR)

If you know of other public safety aviators or industry-related companies that could benefit by becoming APSA members, please share this link and help our association grow in 2022!