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APSA's E-Newsletter is designed to help keep you informed on the very latest information in the airborne law enforcement industry. Former Unit Pilot & Supervisor Dies Unexpectedly
"He was one of those true leaders," Weiner said. "If you wanted something done, and something done right, you went to Jeff Puls." Weiner's voice cracked as he talked about Puls. He had worked under the lieutenant as a first-shift officer and sometimes went to him for advice. "The younger supervisors are going to miss him," Weiner said. "You could walk into his office and he would be honest with you. He was a gentle giant." Puls was a division helicopter pilot from 1984 until 1988, became a lieutenant in 1991, and was supervisor of the Helicopter Unit in 1995 and 1996. He helped modernize the unit and brought in jet-turbine helicopters to replace the outdated, slower, piston-engine helicopters. Lt. Puls continued to maintain his flight status and formerly flew as a relief pilot for Life Flight at Grant Medical Center. Source: www.dispatcher.com Austrian Police Pilot Dies in Crash A police helicopter pilot died last month after losing control during a warm up exercise in Styria, Austria. The two passengers, a police inspector and mountain rescue member, were seriously injured when the helicopter veered away from a house before hitting the ground. The cause of the crash is not currently known. The helicopter was patrolling the bank of the Laßnitz River and preparing for a search mission when it crashed. Officials said the pilot had not transmitted an emergency message. The resident of the house the aircraft brushed said in a news report, "The pilot saved my life and the lives of many children, but lost his. If the helicopter had been five or ten meters lower when it brushed our house, it would probably no longer be standing." Source: www.austriantimes.at New Aircraft Coming; Used One for Sale
The aircraft will be completed with Technisonic tactical radios, AeroComputer moving map system, Axsys IR and HD camera, Goodrich hoist, a cargo hook, Sagem Multi-function Display, and Trakka Beam searchlight. The completion will take 120 days. The new aircraft will replace a Bell OH58A+ that has been in operation since the inception of their aviation program in 1995. Placer County encompasses parts of the Sacramento Valley, Sierra Foothills, and High Sierra mountains with elevations of 100 to 10,000 feet. They encounter temperatures ranging 110 degrees in the summer to well below freezing in the winter. They use their helicopter primarily for patrol, counter-drug and search & rescue. They've had 94 successful rescues since 1995 and have had no accidents or incidents. The Air Support Unit hopes to sell the current OH58 with its mission equipment to a law enforcement agency for a turnkey operation. It should become available immediately after the AS350 is completed. Any agency interested in purchasing the OH58 should contact Sgt. Van Bogardus at (530) 308-0638. Source: Placer County Sheriff's Office FAA Releases Safety Alert The Federal Aviation Administration released a “Safety Alert for Operators” last month stating that some LED-based red obstruction lights used to mark aviation obstacles at nighttime are not being picked up by night vision goggles (NVG) despite the obstruction lights being certified and meeting FAA regulations.
"Crews using NVGs are warned to use extra caution while flying near obstacle areas and to report any hazards to the nearest Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) or military safety officer," the FAA states. Source: http://avherald.com Kansas Agencies Team Up The Shawnee County (KS) Sheriff's Office is teaming up with the Topeka Police Department to get a police helicopter unit back off the ground. The sheriff's office and police department have entered into a partnership to operate a combined "Shawnee County Law Enforcement Aviation Unit," Police Chief Ron Miller told the city council last month. Miller said he will propose to the council that the city sell the grounded, 15-year-old Schweizer helicopter it currently owns and pay cash to buy a used, but more up-to-date police helicopter. Council approval would be necessary for the city to make such a purchase. Source: www.cjonline.com Arizona Pays Tribute to Fallen Officers
On October 13, 2008, Harrolle was killed while assisting with a search and rescue mission of two stranded hikers west of Sedona. The DPS JetRanger helicopter had been called by the Sedona Fire Department and the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office to assist with a search and rescue of missing hikers. Harrolle and a pilot were aboard the helicopter. Officer Harrolle, 36, was struck by the helicopter's rotor blades and fatally injured. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and DPS Director Roger Vanderpool will speak at the Police Officer Memorial Ceremony in Phoenix on May 4, 2009. This annual memorial not only honors the officers, but also the sacrifices of their families. The ceremony is a reminder of the dangers that DPS officers face every day as they protect and serve the State of Arizona. Source: www.verdevalleynews.com Police Chopper Is ‘YouTube' Hit
West Midlands Police Sergeant David Mitchell said, “The helicopter is an invaluable asset in hundreds of arrests each year, as well as recovering stolen property, money and finding missing people. It provides 24/7 cover to the people of the West Midlands and is one of the most advanced helicopters in service in the country.” Source: www.coventrytelegraph.net
Well Known Photographer Retires From Police Work After nearly 30 years with the San Diego County (CA) Sheriff's Department, Officer Pilot Dan Megna retired on March 30, 2009. Working for San Diego's Aerial Support to Regional Enforcement Agencies (ASTREA), Megna has accumulated over 8,000 helicopter flight hours. His primary role has been firefighting and search and rescue missions flying a Bell 205A-1. "I don't have any real plans but hope to keep flying helicopters as well as photography and writing. But who knows, I may end up being a greeter at Wal-Mart," he jokingly commented. Aside from his police duties, Megna is a leading aviation photographer and regular contributor to Vertical Magazine, sharing his perspective and insight of airborne police aviation with readers. He has also contributed to APSA's Air Beat magazine on numerous occasions. Man Charged For Pointing Laser at Aircraft
The U.S. Congress outlawed pointing a laser at an aircraft through the Securing Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2007, allowing for up to five years imprisonment for each offense. Source: www.rosevillept.com Agency in Canada Starts UAV Pilot Program
The $15,000 Draganfly X6, though compact, is still regarded as an aircraft and comes under aviation regulations, so the company needs to demonstrate it can be operated safely in cities and is useful for police in investigating crimes. "The potential is huge," said Kevin Lauscher, 52, a retired police officer who went to work for DraganFly Innovations Inc. two years ago. "It gives police another view and an overall picture of a crime scene. These are small steps, but this one is big because it's the first time in Canada this has happened." The operator of the X6 guides the helicopter by using a remote control and wearing video-goggles that show what the chopper sees through the camera. The U.S. military has grown to rely on similar unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, to do aerial surveys and provide video to commanders on the ground. The key in expanding the police service's use of the technology is going to be proving the images hold up in court. Source: www2.canada.com UK Government to Fund Purchase of Six Police Helicopters
The Police Air Support Units in Suffolk, Cheshire, North Wales, Cleveland, Midlands and Chilterns will each receive a new EC135 P2i helicopter. However, the helicopters will be used by up to a total of 18 neighboring police forces as part of regional consortia, including a Midlands regional collaboration pilot project to trial more efficient joint police air operations. Each of the helicopters will feature the latest airborne law enforcement and police reconnaissance and surveillance systems as well as interoperable communications devices and daylight and thermal imaging cameras, Nightsun search lights and video downlink systems. Source: American Eurocopter Airshow Highlights Heroes of Aviation
Law enforcement helicopters scheduled to be onsite are from the Austin Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety. The event also offers a career fair with recruiting teams from law enforcement, public safety, government service, volunteer agencies and the U. S. military. Guest speakers, musical entertainment, numerous concessions and plenty of heroes will enlighten you during the 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daylong event. For more information, please visit Air Beat Magazine To Focus on TFOs The editorial team of Air Beat Magazine is currently working on the July-August 2009 edition that explores the role of the tactical flight officer in airborne police operations. TFOs are the unsung heroes of airborne law enforcement. It's been said that without a capable, well-trained TFO at the helm of a modern law enforcement aircraft's tactical equipment suite, you might as well stay on the ground. Tell us about your TFO and how important he/she is to the success of your mission. Email your comments before the end of this month toairbeat@PublicSafetyAviation.org. Sign Up For The Only Conference Dedicated to Airborne Police Operations!
Ballots for APSA Board Positions Coming by Mail In accordance with Section 4.04 of the APSA Bylaws, nominations for the offices of President, Chief Financial Officer, Central Region Director, Canadian Region Director and Southeastern Region Director for the 2009-2011 term closed on Dec. 15, 2008. All eligible nominees were profiled in the March-April edition of Air Beat magazine. Because of multiple candidates in the Central and Southeast Regions, each voting member in those regions will receive a ballot on or about May 1, 2009. This ballot will include a list of voting instructions and sufficient postage for return mail. All ballots must be postmarked no later than Friday, June 16, 2009. The ballots will be counted during the 39th Annual Conference & Exposition in Savannah, GA, with the results announced at the General Membership Meeting to be held on July 23, 2009. Please direct any questions to APSA Secretary Martin L. Jackson via email at secretary@PublicSafetyAviation.org. Final Reminder: APSA Awards & Scholarships
Questions regarding the nominations and/or applications processes should be directed to the Chair of the APSA Awards and Scholarships Committee, Kevin Caffery, at kcaffery@PublicSafetyAviation.org or to APSA Executive Director Steve Ingley at 301-631-2406 or singley@PublicSafetyAviation.org. |
Lt. Jeffrey L. Puls, 57, of the Columbus (OH) Division of Police died last month while on duty, apparently of natural causes. He was a 36-year veteran of the division. He planned police deployment for everything from Red, White & Boom to Ohio State University football games. He was the person who told everyone where to be and what to do, Sgt. Rich Weiner said in a news report. The most recent event he worked on was President Barack Obama's visit to Columbus on March 6.
On April 17, 2009, the Placer County (CA) Sheriff's Department Air Support Unit will be taking delivery of a new American Eurocopter AS350 B3. Chief Pilot Van Bogardus and Unit Commander Dave Harris will be flying the new ship from Grand Prairie, Texas to the Hangar One completion facility in San Diego, California for its final touches.
The LED obstruction lights are becoming more common due to their energy efficiency and long life. Unlike traditional incandescent light sources, the LEDs do not emit infrared energy and provide a very narrow band of emission. Although they are clearly visible to the naked eye, they "disappear" from approved night vision goggles. The aviation red mandated by FAA has wavelengths between 610 and 700 nanometers, while approved NVGs are sensitive from 665 to 930 nanometers. It is therefore possible, that due to the narrow band of emission, approved LEDs well meet the "aviation red" and still fall below the range of goggles.
The Arizona Highway Patrol Association will pay respect to the Arizona Department of Public Safety officers who have been killed in the line of duty. During this year's ceremony, a special part of the program will recognize Officer/Paramedic Bruce W. Harrolle.
A video posted on the Internet site YouTube by West Midlands Police Air Operations Unit in the United Kingdom attracted more than 9,000 views last month. The footage, which gives an insight into the work of their EC135 helicopter, is one of the most popular educational videos on You Tube. You can view at 
A Roseville, California man faces felony charges for aiming a high-powered laser beam at an airliner and a Sacramento County (CA) Sheriff's Department helicopter last month. After the sheriff's helicopter crew notified ground police that someone was pointing a laser beam, the 29-year-old was found and arrested on suspicion of discharging a laser at an aircraft. Police said they could not comment on why the suspect pointed the device at the two aircraft.
The Saskatoon Police Service in Canada will begin testing the DraganFly X6 this summer to do aerial photography of crime scenes and collisions. The small remote-control helicopter, which uses six horizontal blades, has a built-in camera to help with aerial photography and video. Up until now, police have had to rely on boom trucks to take aerial photographs and capture images of an entire collision scene.
Funding for the purchase of six new police Eurocopter EC135 helicopters was approved last month through a 2009-2010 multi-million dollar capital grant for air support, as part of the first joint procurement by six police forces in the United Kingdom. The grant will also provide enhanced state-of-the-art mission equipment.
The American Heroes Airshow will take place in Austin, Texas on April 18, 2009 at Camp Mabry. This free admission program is dedicated to educating the public as to the unique capabilities of helicopters in law enforcement, fire service, public/private EMS, homeland defense and national security.
Have you registered for the 
APSA is accepting nominations for awards and applications for scholarships. The submission deadline is May 1, 2009. The names of the awards and scholarship recipients will be announced at the 
