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  Two Tennessee law enforcement officers died when their helicopter hit power lines and crashed in a wooded area. Tennessee Highway Patrol Sgt. Lee Russell, 35, a pilot of the Special Operations Aviation Division, and Marion County Sheriff’s Department Detective Matt Blansett were killed in the crash on August 23.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the Bell 206 helicopter struck a power line and crashed near Aetna Mountain, about 30 miles west of Chattanooga. It is unclear what caused the helicopter to strike the power line. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) said the two men were looking for marijuana but shifted to help with the search for a missing person. According to the TBI, the assignment was the normal operation of the Governor's Task Force on Marijuana Eradication, but then the two officers changed routes to pursue a lead on the Marion County missing person.
"That morning was to do the marijuana extraction, but Matt was asked by another detective to divert off and check the Whiteside of the area to look for this missing person," said Marion County Sheriff Bo Burnett. The TBI said they were searching for a missing person at the time the helicopter crashed.
Sgt. Russell began his law enforcement career as a reserve deputy for Henry County Sheriff’s Office while he was a student at the University of Tennessee Martin. He was an intern for the TBI, a part-time rotor and fixed-wing pilot for the 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force and then joined the Tennessee Highway Patrol after graduation from the Trooper Cadet Academy in 2010. He was then assigned to the Aviation Section and underwent advanced flight training focusing on airborne law enforcement techniques. He received THP Lifesaver Awards, Governor’s Highway Safety Office Hero of the Year Award, and several letters of commendation for lifesaving events and criminal apprehensions.
“There are no words to describe the heartache and sadness our department is experiencing right now,” said Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Jeff Long. “Sergeant Russell was an outstanding pilot but an even better person. We mourn with the Marion County Sheriff’s Department in the loss of Detective Matt Blansett. Both men were passionate about their jobs. This is a tremendous loss for the Tennessee law enforcement community. We ask for prayers of comfort for the families, our department, and the Marion County Sheriff’s Department during this dark and difficult time.”
Sources: wdef.com, nbcnews.com, local3news.com
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  A family of four was rescued after spending three days stranded in a steep canyon last month. The parents, along with their 10-year-old, a nine-month-old infant, and a dog were hiking in Tahoe National Forest in Northern California when they became stuck.
Sierra County Sheriff’s Office said the area, 225 miles northeast of San Francisco, is some of the steepest in the county, as it backs onto the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Authorities say that the mother came down with heat exhaustion and could not hike out of the remote area to safety.
The husband left on the third day of being stranded to search for help, officials said. His wife and two children stayed behind on the steep embankment. The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office requested a California Highway Patrol (CHP) helicopter to help with the operation.
The CHP aircrew was not able to locate the mother and children due to the thick tree canopy but was able to locate the husband and his vehicle on the canyon rim. The helicopter guided deputies to his location, and they hiked to the wife and children, led in by the husband, 2,500 feet down the canyon.
With darkness closing in, some of the rescue team then took the father and children back to their waiting car, while others stayed overnight with the mother. The following day, when there was enough light, a rescue helicopter came and hoisted the mother out of the forest and took her to a waiting medevac helicopter.
Video from the scene can be seen here. Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, Downieville Fire Department, and the United States Forest Service assisted in the search and rescue.
Source: ktvu.com and news.yahoo.com
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  This past month, the Utah Department of Public Safety Aero Bureau set two records for challenging rescues using helicopters. Both involved hikers who got hurt.
The first was the highest-elevation hoist for the state law enforcement agency – close to 13,000 feet near Gilbert Peak, the state’s third-highest peak. “It was a female who was hiking up there and had fallen and sustained a pretty bad leg injury,” DPS Pilot Chelsea Tugaw explained.
Then, another record-setting rescue happened when a man hiking near Lone Peak fell. The air ambulance could not retrieve him, so DPS Aero Bureau jumped into action. “He had fallen into a kind of a tight chute area with little granite walls on the sides,” Tugaw said, “and they weren’t able to get close enough to hoist him out of that location.”
She said that was the longest hoist ever for the state law enforcement agency because a 50-foot extension was needed. “We had to leave him 50 feet below the aircraft because it’s just basically a rope extension,” Tugaw said, “and then we flew him down to the command post, where we lowered him down into the parking lot.”
The Aero Bureau has already had their busiest year to date with more than 90 hoists so far.
Source: ksltv.com
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  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:
VIRTUAL | Canadian | September 28, 2022
IN-PERSON | Mesa (AZ) Police Department | October 11, 2022
VIRTUAL | Natural Resources | October 26, 2022
To schedule a Safety Stand-To in your area, please contact APSA Training Program Manager Terry Palmer by email or call her at 972-999-6276.
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  The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department (SBCSD) Emergency Operations Division has purchased a Subaru Bell 412EPX for critical missions and mutual aid assistance to adjoining counties in the Southern California region.
Founded in 1972, the SBCSD Aviation Unit originally began its operations with two Bell 47G models. Today, it operates a diverse fleet of helicopters on multi-role operations including a Bell 212, three UH-1H models and six Airbus H125 aircraft. In additional to general law enforcement support, the Aviation Unit also aids in personnel/cargo transport, airborne photography, SAR operations, wildland fire suppression and emergency medical transport services.
“As the lead aerial law enforcement agency for San Bernardino County, it’s critical to have the most reliable aircraft,” says Lt. Daniel Futscher, SBCSD Emergency Operations Division. “The topography and vastness of San Bernardino and the neighboring counties we serve can be a challenge, and we are eager to utilize the Subaru Bell 412EPX to combat those challenges.”
Source: Bell
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  Police arrested two men and are looking for additional suspects in a shooting in a Portland neighborhood that left about 90 cartridge casings on the street.
The Portland Police Bureau Air Support Unit aircraft deployed to assist officers on the ground and captured much of the shootout on video.
When the police plane arrived overhead, the aircrew spotted two small groups of people on the street moving toward each other, in the midst of what appeared to be an aggressive argument. Officers then saw several people firing shots at each other, according to an affidavit. “They’re shooting at each other, dude,” an officer exclaims in the video.
The footage shows at least three people firing shots as they moved from parked car to parked car, firing weapons and seeking shelter. At least one building was damaged and multiple vehicles were struck by gunfire, according to police. Other people in the area dropped to the ground when the shooting began. Despite the fusillade, there were no injuries among the people nearby who were not involved in the gun battle, police said.
The shooting lasted for a little over 30 seconds, and the Air Support Unit aircrew then followed two of the shooters who were arrested. They both could face various weapons charges, including discharging a firearm in the city. Police seized two guns as evidence.
Source: Oregonlive.com
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  Four men that were charged for aiming laser pointers at police helicopters in metro Atlanta will face federal charges after being indicted by a grand jury. There were four separate incidents.
In February 2020, a Gwinnett County (GA) Police Department helicopter was searching for a robbery suspect when officials said a 55-year-old pointed a red laser at the helicopter, temporarily blinding the pilot. Police said they were forced to stop looking for the robbery suspect and switch to infrared vision to locate where the red laser was coming from. Once police had an address, they went to the man’s home where he admitted to police to pointing his laser at the helicopter.
In November 2020, officials said a 48-year-old shined a green laser at a Gwinnett Police Department helicopter as it searched for a stolen vehicle. Police were able to identify the home that the laser was coming from and officers on the ground went to the home. Once there, the man admitted to shining a laser at the helicopter.
A 61-year-old man admitted to shining a laser at an Atlanta Police Department helicopter on May 26, 2021 as it was searching for a 6-year old boy who had been reported missing. During the search, police said the man shined a green laser at the helicopter multiple times. The pilot was forced to switch to protective eye gear that minimized the light from the laser. Once police arrived at the man’s home, he admitted to shining the laser at the helicopter.
On July 1, 2021, the Gwinnett Police helicopter searched for a wandering person. During the search, a 51-year-old shined a green laser multiple times at the helicopter, interfering with the search. Police said the green laser forced the tactical flight officer to switch to the infrared camera to identify where the laser light was coming from. Once officers arrived at the man’s home, he admitted to shining the laser at the helicopter.
“The Atlanta Police Department takes the safety of our officers seriously, whether on the ground or in the air,” said interim Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum. “The fact that these defendants used laser pointers to endanger the lives of members of our Phoenix Air Unit and the safety of people on the ground is very disturbing. The federal charges brought forth against these men send a message that irresponsible actions and criminal activity will not be tolerated.”
“The Gwinnett Police Department is thankful for the diligence the FAA and FBI both have for continuing the mission of educating the public on how dangerous it is to point a laser at any aircraft. Our department will not allow these offenses to interfere with the Aviation Unit’s operations and the department’s mission of serving and protecting the residents of Gwinnett with first-class law enforcement service, including airborne response,” said Chief James D. McClure of Gwinnett County Police Department.
Source: yahoo.com
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APSA conducts regularly scheduled online meetings for safety officers, maintenance technicians, SAR and Natural Resources personnel, and UAS operators that you can join using your computer, mobile device or phone. To facilitate this, the UAS, Safety Officer and Maintenance Technician Meeting Groups meet once every two months, and the SAR Personnel and Natural Resources Meeting Groups meet quarterly.
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, September 23, 2022 from 1:00-2:00 PM EDT (1700 UTC)
- Natural Resources: Wednesday, October 5, 2022 from 1:00-2:00 PM EDT (1700 UTC)
- Maintenance: Wednesday, October 19, 2022 from 1:00-2:00 PM EDT (1700 UTC)
- SAR: Wednesday, November 2, 2022 from 1:00-2:00 PM EDT (1700 UTC)
- UAS: Wednesday, November 9, 2022 from 1:00-2:00 pm EST (1800 UTC)
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  A Collier County (FL) Sheriff’s Office Aviation Bureau helicopter crew rescued two hikers from the Big Cypress Preserve after a storm last month. CCSO said they received a 911 call that one of the hikers had been suffering from severe heatstroke and could not continue down the trail. The other stayed behind to care for him. The two men were approximately seven miles from the park’s edge.
“The one individual had the beginnings of heat stroke. With the heat, it’s not good to continue on … they did the right thing to find shelter in the shade and waited for help to come. It’s very vast out there and very wet … so much of the Everglades is actually flooded. So it can be very dangerous trying to get out there in that condition,” said Cpl. Matt Macera, one of the pilots on the mission.
Due to severe weather, aircrews were unable to respond and a ground search with assistance from the National Park Services began. Once the weather cleared, three deputies and two rescue specialists responded to the area and a helicopter search began. CCSO had been able to track the caller’s cell phone coordinates, giving them a half a mile radius to search. After an hour-long search, the hikers were spotted shining their flashlights and then hoisted safely.
“It feels good to know that we helped somebody in need. Helicopter operations are very dangerous. So we didn’t want to spend a lot of time out there – get in and get out. Rescue specialists did a great job. Pilots did a great job,” said Cpl. Macera. Watch the video here.
“This rescue is a prime example of the great work of our Aviation Bureau,” said Sheriff Kevin Rambosk. “Whether it is a rescue or helping to extinguish brush fires or assisting our patrol division, our Aviation Bureau is always ready to deploy.”
Source: nbc-2.com
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  On behalf of FAA Central Regional Administrator Colleen D’Alessandro, APSA members are invited to attend a free all-day public safety UAS workshop in Brunswick, ME on September 30, 2022. The FAA has partnered with the University of Maine, Brunswick Aviation Campus to bring you a day of public safety UAS resources and best practices to support your UAS program.
The agenda includes: FAA Resources for Public Safety, Regional Public Safety UAS Programs, Enabling Emergency UAS Operations, UAS Security and Assistance, as well as sharing lessons learned and a Q&A roundtable.
The event is limited to 125 guests, so please register as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please email michael.oshea@faa.gov or call (202) 267-6164.
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation
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  The State of Maine has a newly acquired Bell 407 helicopter that will be used by the Maine Forest Service (MFS) to fight forest fires and assist in search and rescue missions. The helicopter was purchased in June 2022 and recently arrived at the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's (DACF) MFS Aviation Branch headquarters in Old Town. The helicopter is equipped and ready for service activation.
The helicopter, which cost $2.8 million, replaces an MFS helicopter that is more than 50 years old. The helicopter is part of the MFS Forest Protection Aviation Branch and will be used for fire detection and firefighting, dropping water, and moving firefighters and equipment to rural and remote locations quickly.
It also will be used to support other state and local agencies, such as Maine State Police, Maine Department of Inland Fish and Wildlife, Game Wardens, Marine Patrol Officers, and Baxter State Park Rangers, with search and rescue missions, aiding in the rescue of injured people in remote areas where emergency medical services are difficult to access.
The Forest Protection Aviation Branch flies more than 400 missions per year, transporting firefighters and thousands of pounds of supplies, and dropping water on fires. In 2021, the Maine Forest Service dropped more than 91,000 gallons of water on fires and carried 269 firefighters. In addition to firefighting, the fleet has conducted 104 aerial inspections of logging sites and 22 interagency searches or manhunts with Maine State Police. The Aviation Branch also utilizes aircraft to assist other agencies with transport for important scientific sampling and surveying efforts that help conserve and maintain the state’s natural resources.
The Aviation Branch fleet includes five UH-1H (Huey) utility helicopters, two Bell 407 helicopters, and three fixed-wing airplanes. The fleet is maintained by four mechanics and flown by five pilots. “Upgrading the Maine Forest Service’s aging helicopter fleet is an investment in the safety of our forests and our people,” said Governor Janet Mills. “Maine is one of the most heavily forested states in the nation, which means that we need to be ready on a dime to protect that resource and to assist in search and rescue efforts to save lives. This new helicopter will help us do just that.”
Source: maine.gov
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  The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Emergency Services Detail, also known as Air Rescue 5, rescued a hiker and his beloved dog after the hiker was unable to traverse a trail.
On August 8, Air Rescue 5 received a call for service regarding a hiker and his dog that fell 200 feet over the side of the trail. The Air Rescue 5 crew responded to the area of the call and located Dave Santonil and his dog Bubba standing on a small shelf of soil that protruded from the vertical mountainside and had a very steep drop. Based on the difficult position, Air Rescue 5 assessed the situation and devised a rescue plan.
The aircrew maneuvered the aircraft in the canyon and placed it where the helicopter’s rotors would not blow the man and his dog from their fragile position. With the assistance of his partners, an officer using rappelling equipment was lowered from the helicopter to where Santonil and his dog were. He managed to secure the man and dog safely and hoisted them up into safety. Watch the video here.
“There are dangers in the trails. We have the nation’s largest county, and we have the nation’s largest playground right next to the largest population. So, the mixture of those two leads the crew of Air Rescue 5 to be very busy during the summer months, during the winter months and pretty much all year long.” Sheriff Villanueva stated during the press conference.
Dave Santonil and Bubba visited the LASD hangar to thank the Air 5 crew who airlifted them to safety. One of Bubba's rescuers said that the dog had already grown since they rescued him two weeks ago, and he was wagging his tail upon seeing them this time, rather than peeing on them as he did in the helicopter.
Source: lasd.org and cbsnews.com
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  The Government Accountability Office (GAO) says more action should be taken to prevent and address the federal crime of intentionally aiming lasers at aircraft.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported 9,723 laser incidents in 2021, up from 6,852 in 2020. This is the highest reported number of incidents ever. Pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime and a serious threat to aviation safety. The FAA considers each “illumination” of aircraft by lasers to be an in-flight emergency. The FAA has also identified helicopters (including police, air ambulance, military, and news media aircraft) that routinely operate at low altitudes as particularly vulnerable to hazardous laser strikes due to their proximity to laser sources. In February 2022, the FAA stated pilots have reported 244 injuries attributed to lasers since it began recording data on laser incidents in 2010.
The FAA works with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to pursue civil and criminal penalties against people who purposely aim a laser at an aircraft. The agency takes enforcement action against people who violate Federal Aviation Regulations by shining lasers at aircraft and can impose civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation. The FAA has imposed civil penalties up to $30,800 against people for multiple laser incidents. But given 2021ʼs unprecedented number of incidents as well as the fact that more than 5,000 reports of laser pointing have been made to the FAA already this year, GAOʼs report could help the FAA better address this threat that can incapacitate pilots flying aircraft that may be carrying hundreds of passengers.
GAOʼs report notes that the FAA, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Food and Drug Administration, which has regulatory authority over lasers, each conduct outreach to educate the public about laser incidents. These agencies were involved in an interagency group to address laser safety concerns until 2015 when the group dissolved. Since then, laser incidents have increased and identifying subjects remains difficult. GAO believes that the FAA is well positioned to lead an interagency effort to explore reestablishing this group, given FAAʼs responsibility for the safety of the national airspace.
To support incident investigations, the FAA asks that pilots complete an incident questionnaire upon landing. However, GAO found that the FAA received responses for only about 12 percent of the 8,221 laser incidents that occurred over a recent one-year period from 2020 to 2021. Reasons identified by the FAA and others for the low response rate include the length of the questionnaire and its voluntary nature. Further, GAO found that the FAA does not consistently share collected information with law enforcement.
GAOʼs report makes three recommendations with which the Department of Transportation agrees. First, that the FAA should determine what information from pilots and crewmembers would be most useful for investigating laser incidents, and how best to collect the information and to share it with law enforcement. Second, improve the FAAʼs quarterly reports to Congress on laser incidents by routinely seeking information from other agencies on related federal investigation and enforcement actions and disclosing, in those reports, any limitations with the data. Finally, GAO said the FAA should explore reestablishing an interagency working group on outreach to educate the public on the hazards of lasers and the illegality of aiming lasers at aircraft. Read the full report here.
Source: hstoday.us
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  Officers from seven Kentucky law enforcement agencies attended recent training held by the Kentucky State Police (KSP) to learn forensic mapping techniques using drones. KSP’s Critical Incident Response Team conducted the unmanned aerial system training, according to a KSP news release.
Forensic mapping assists law enforcement officers in documenting key points of evidence allowing for accurate measurements and real-world perspective in a three-dimensional point of view. The course focused on teaching methods to forensically map a collision or crime scene using a drone.
“This UAS training course gives our law enforcement agencies the ability to keep making the commonwealth’s communities safer,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “This sharing of information between agencies further demonstrates that enhancing public safety is a top priority we are all invested in.”
The program plays a key role in diagramming collision and crime scenes. The advancement in unmanned aerial technology has drastically decreased the time officers are required to keep a roadway closed after a severe or fatal collision. Clearing roadways quickly improves traffic safety and reduces delays for commerce travel.
Agencies in attendance were the Frankfort Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Louisville Metro Police Department, Richmond Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Elizabethtown Police Department and the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office.
Source: thenewsenterprise.com
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  A police pursuit involving a stolen vehicle across multiple cities ended with two teenagers and an adult arrested last month.
The incident began just after 10 p.m. when a Detroit police officer attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle that didn’t match its license plate. Police said the truck sped off when the cruiser activated its lights, which resulted in a pursuit. Assistant Police Chief Charles Fitzgerald said the chase was about to be called off when someone from inside the truck fired shots at the police. Fitzgerald said over the course of the pursuit, police officers were fired on at least four separate times.
The Detroit Police Department was joined by Michigan State Police and other law enforcement officers in the pursuit, which ended when a trooper used a PIT maneuver on the truck. Footage from a Michigan State Police helicopter captured the pursuit and PIT maneuver on video.
Following the PIT maneuver, three people fled the stolen truck on foot. Police said two people ran into Allen Park and the third ran into Dearborn. MSP troopers engaged in a foot pursuit to “make sure they were not free to roam the streets and commit more crimes.” All three were apprehended and two weapons were recovered.
Fitzgerald said the driver of the stolen truck was a 14-year-old boy who had been arrested and released on bond after he shot his girlfriend in the back Aug. 3. He added that she would likely require a wheelchair for the rest of her life.
Source: www.wilx.com
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  A 37-year-old Florida man was arrested after he pointed a green laser beam directly at a Marion County Sheriff’s Office helicopter. On August 7, the MCSO Aviation Unit, Air 1, informed the Ocala Police Department that a man who was standing outside his residence had pointed a green laser beam directly at the helicopter at least three times.
An OPD officer responded to the residence and made contact with a man. While speaking with the officer, the man admitted to pointing the laser at the sky and stated that he “does it every night,” according to OPD. The man was taken into custody and it was later discovered that he was out on felony probation. He is facing a felony charge for misuse of a laser lighting device.
OPD is reminding residents that any person who knowingly and willfully shines, points, or focuses the beam of a laser lighting device on an individual operating a motor vehicle, vessel, or aircraft is committing a third degree felony.
Source: ocala-news.com
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  The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded $2.7 million to support research on how drones can assist in disaster preparedness and in emergencies. The research funding, awarded to five universities, will explore the use of drones in providing effective and efficient responses to different natural and human-made disasters. It will address coordination procedures among drone operators from federal agencies as well as state and local disaster preparedness and emergency response organizations.
This announcement is the third round of Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE) grants, which brings the total to 20 grants valued at $21 million for fiscal year 2022. The ASSURE Center of Excellence is one of six that the DOT has established to help advance technology and educate the next generation of aviation professionals. Research conducted through ASSURE is focused on helping the drone community safely grow and integrate into the nation’s airspace.
According to the FAA, more than 850,000 recreational and commercial drones are in the active drone fleet, and that number is expected to grow.
Source: uasvision.com
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  A high-speed pursuit on a Memphis interstate ended with a helicopter tracking down a 19-year-old man. The Memphis (TN) Police Department said an officer saw a vehicle speeding eastbound down I-240 around 2:40 a.m. on August 8. That officer kept up with the man as he raced down the interstate at 130 mph, according to a police affidavit.
MPD attempted to use emergency equipment to make a traffic stop, but instead the teenager sped away in a reckless manner and began streaming himself fleeing from police live on Facebook. The MPD Air Support’s helicopter began tracking and followed him to a home where he was arrested without further incident, police said.
Upon searching the man, police reported finding a large bulge of bullets in his front right pocket and a Glock 17 Gen 5 gun under the driver seat of the car. He was charged with intentionally evading arrest in an automobile, unlawful possession of a weapon, reckless driving and speeding.
Source: yahoo.com
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  Do you know an agency, team or individual in the rotorcraft, drone or advanced air mobility community who is outstanding in their profession? Or, perhaps they conducted an exceptional operation that made the news? Helicopter Association International (HAI) is hoping you’ll tell their story. HAI is accepting nominations for its annual Salute to Excellence Awards program. The deadline for all nominations is Oct. 1, 2022. Award descriptions and criteria, as well as additional information about the awards process, are available here.
These awards recognize superior achievement across the rotorcraft industry and are open to individuals, teams or organizations that work with helicopters and remotely piloted aircraft systems. Anyone may submit a nomination, and anyone may be nominated. HAI membership is not required.
The Salute to Excellence award winners will be honored during HAI HELI-EXPO 2023 in Atlanta, GA on March 6–9.
Source: HAI
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  The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) held their fourth annual New York State Public Safety UAS Summit on Aug. 16-17, a two-day uncrewed aircraft systems summit designed specifically for New York State public safety officials. The UAS Summit attracted over 150 public safety officials from across the state who received updates on the latest drone regulations pertinent to first responders and witnessed live demonstrations of the latest UAS technology and services designed specifically to help public safety operations.
The first day provided ample opportunities for learning and sharing best practices for drone operations in various public safety situations. The morning session featured a presentation by Mike O’Shea, Program Manager and Public Safety Liaison of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with an update on the latest UAS policies and regulations. Participants also learned of the latest updates and policies that relate to counter-UAS technologies and services developed strictly to help agencies defend community assets and its people against the nefarious use of drones.
The second day of the NYS Public Safety UAS Summit was held at Griffiss International Airport, home to the New York UAS Test Site, one of only seven FAA-designated UAS test sites in the country. The event was filled with multiple vendors showcasing the latest drone technologies designed specifically for public safety operations. Throughout the day, vendors conducted live demonstrations of their technologies and services including different drone platforms and payloads, cameras, counter-UAS systems, live-streaming capabilities, software, and more.
Source: NUAIR’s NYFLY
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  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.
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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 August 2022:
Corporate Members:
EIT Avionics, LLC
Individual Members:
Elias Acosta, Canadian Helicopters Limited
David Battaly, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency
Carl Blando, Boston (MA) Police Department
Eric Bourn, York Co. Maine Emergency Management Agency | Drone Unit
Tyler Bowers, Maryland State Police | Aviation Command (SYSCOM)
Tyler Brice, Maryland State Police | Aviation Command (SYSCOM)
Daniel Britz, Minnesota State Patrol Flight
Kurtis Brown, Everett (WA) Fire Department
Adam Bryant, Lake Stevens (WA) Police Department
Jeffrey Canvasser, US Border Patrol (WV)
Jason Capper, Aurora (CO) Police Department
Crystal Clement, Westminster (CO) Police Department
Edward Clements, Aurora (CO) Police Department
George Colonna, Carroll (MD) Community College
Elvin Cuevas, Orange County (FL) Sheriff’s Office
Adam Davies, Maryland State Police | Aviation Command (SYSCOM)
Joshua Doonan, Everett (WA) Police Department
Dale Ednock, Maryland State Police | Aviation Command (SYSCOM)
Bobby Eisele, Bureau of Land Management (ID)
Thomas Forbes, Connecticut State Police
Chuck Fuller, Monroe (WA) Police Department
Cody Garcia, Jefferson County (CO) Sheriff's Office
Brandon Gomez, Aurora (CO) Police Department
Charles Gore, Maryland State Police | Aviation Command (SYSCOM)
Troy Grahn, Arvada (CO) Police Department
Aaron Greenmun, Edmonds (WA) Police Department
Dakota Gunter, Oxford (AL) Police Department
Josh Hardeman, Oxford (AL) Police Department
Brian Hawks, US Secret Service | Communications Center (RTC)
Tanner Hedlund, Lynnwood (WA) Police Department
Nelson Herrera, NDH Ventures, LLC
Matthew Herz, Connecticut State Police
George Higgs, Charles County (MD) Sheriff's Office
Korene Houston, US Secret Service | Communications Center (RTC)
Daniel Johnson, Snohomish County (WA) Sheriff's Office
Tobias Joy, Maryland State Police | Aviation Command (SYSCOM)
Mark Kaylor, Charles County (MD) Sheriff’s Office
William Kesler, Westminster (CO) Police Department
Steve LaPaglia, Guilford (CT) Fire Department
David Lenart, Derby (CT) Fire Department
Derrick Lether, Monroe (WA) Police Department
Phillip Livingston, US Secret Service | Communications Center (RTC)
Matthew Longshore, Aurora (CO) Police Department
Chris Love, Arvada (CO) Police Department
Clayton Magor, Westminster (CO) Police Department
Matt Malone, US Secret Service | Communications Center (RTC)
Christopher Manalansan, Anne Arundel County (MD) Police Department
Alexis Marcil, Laval (QC) Police Department
Zachary Martin, Farmington (CT) Police Department
Adam Matkowsky, Westminster (CO) Police Department
Edward Mayfield, Texas Department of Public Safety | Austin
Brad McLaughlin, Westminster (CO) Police Department
Edward Mersman, Maryland State Police | Aviation Command (SYSCOM)
Kristen Moritz, Tucson (AZ) Police Department | Air Support Unit
Brian Moss, Mountlake Terrace (WA) Police Department
Kristie Peterson, Maryland State Police | Aviation Command (SYSCOM)
Michael Redding, Maryland State Police | Aviation Command (SYSCOM)
Brandon Reinarz, Austin (TX) Police Department | Air Support Unit
Trevor Riley, Oxford (AL) Police Department
Aaron Roberts, Tucson (AZ) Police Department | Air Support Unit
Wade Schonher, Castle Rock (CO) Police Department
Laz Schreck, Marysville (WA) Police Department
Kelly Schulze, University of Vermont Spatial Analysis Lab
Tyson Shuck, Broomfield (CO) Police Department
Charles Smart, Tier 3 Group
Mark Smith, Westminster (CO) Police Department
Heron Soto, US Border Patrol (WV)
Anthony St Marie, Manchester (CT) Emergency Management
Tim Sturgell, US Secret Service | Communications Center (RTC)
Ray Sturm, US Secret Service | Communications Center (RTC)
Brian Sutton, Garfield County (CO) Sheriff's Office
Scott Sweeney, Washington State Patrol Aviation Unit
Dan Ternovan, US Secret Service | Communications Center (RTC)
Michael Terzigni, Middlebury (CT) Police Department
Charles Thayer, Lynnwood (WA) Police Department
Keith Thomas, Maryland State Police | Aviation Command (SYSCOM)
Frank Thompson, Dorchester County (SC) Sheriff's Office | Air Support Unit
Robert Thurston, Snohomish County (WA) Emergency Management
Andrew Tuck, Royal Canadian Mounted Police | Air Services Branch | Ottawa
Thomas Van Haecke, Arvada (CO) Police Department
Geoffrey Voigt, Carroll (MD) Community College
Ronald Warren, North Central Pennsylvania Unmanned Emergency Services
Jeremy Whitefoot, North Slope Borough (MI) Search and Rescue
Aaron Wilkinson, Westminster (CO) Police Department
Rick Williams, Northglenn (CO) Police Department
Michael Witek, Derby (CT) Fire Department
Terry Wygant, Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Voua Xiong, Aurora (CO) Police Department
David Zanoni, Maryland State Police | Aviation Command (SYSCOM)
Chad Ziegenhorn, Utah Transit Authority Police Department
Justin Zimmerman, Maryland State Police | Aviation Command (SYSCOM)
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!
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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 2022 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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