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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. Chicago Mayor Unveils New Helicopter
The Bell 206 was purchased with funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It is equipped with thermal imaging and video cameras, a radiation detector and a moving map system. The helicopter has a crew of four and is being shared with the Cook County (IL) Sheriff's Police Department. The new aircraft is the police department's second helicopter. The other was acquired from the Chicago Fire Department and has been retrofitted for police work. They are referred to as police Helicopter One and Two. "This helicopter isn't designed to replace any police officers," Daley said. "It's designed to make them more effective - just like all our other advances in crime-fighting technology. In Chicago, we combine good police officers with community partners and advanced technology. That's how we're making Chicago a safer city." SOURCE: egov.cityofchicago.org Man Gets Prison Time for Pointing Laser
Prosecutors say the man bought a high-powered laser on the Internet and brought it to a party on June 4, 2008. Flight crews of two planes about to land at Cleveland Hopkins Airport reported that a laser was hitting their cockpits. Later that night, lasers hit the cockpit of a medical helicopter flying a patient to a hospital, as well as the police helicopter. SOURCE: www.cleveland.com Unit's Cost Leads to Shutdown & Firings
Assistant Pensacola Police Chief Chip Simmons said law enforcement agencies are facing difficult times when it comes to their budgets, so he understands why the sheriff decided to cut the unit. Simmons said it's difficult to predict what the impact of losing the unit will be. After March 1, the helicopters will be stored until the Sheriff's Office decides what to do with them. Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said shutting down the unit was the toughest decision he has had to make since taking office. "There are no sacred cows at the Sheriff's Office," he said. "The only thing that is not on the table is patrol, investigations and the jail." SOURCE: www.pnj.com IDT Defends State Police's Aircraft Fleet
A recent legislative audit asked the department to analyze the cost-effectiveness and need for the three state-owned planes, which the report says cost about $350,000 a year to operate and maintain. The highest priorities for these planes are law enforcement and emergency use, said John DeThomas, ITD Aeronautics Division Administrator. Idaho is required by law to provide search and rescue services, including the ability to find downed aircraft locator beacons, DeThomas said. The state also must be able to respond to emergencies around-the-clock. An earthquake, dam break, bridge failure or major snowstorm could make roads impassable, DeThomas explained. Aircraft may be the only way to get emergency responders and supplies into the area. The state also needs aircraft available around-the-clock to provide emergency transportation for police, such as SWAT or prison emergency response teams, DeThomas said. Chartering an airplane to transport a SWAT team is not as easy as it sounds because the FAA does not allow charter flights to carry such weaponry on short notice and there's no guarantee a plane would be available. The ITD estimates it costs about $1,053 per hour to operate its King Air 200, including two pilots. Chartering a comparable airplane costs about $1,040 per hour, plus extra if a second pilot is needed. The state needs to have around-the-clock emergency transportation; charter plane availability is not guaranteed, unless a plane is kept on retainer, which is expensive. The Idaho National Guard has an extensive aircraft fleet, but to use its aircraft and pilots, the governor would have to declare an emergency and then obtain authorization, a complex and time-consuming process. SOURCE: www.idahostatesman.com Join us for the 39th Annual APSA Conference & Exposition
Police Air Wing Opened in South Africa
The AS350 B3 helicopter was designed specifically to cope with Namibia's topographic conditions, including high levels of elevation above sea level, and is suited to perform in extreme temperatures and dusty environments. It is further equipped with night vision capabilities and can be used in multiple police roles like search and rescue, pursuits, disaster management, combating fires, controlling the movement of dangerous wild animals, and other such operations. "These are the necessary ingredients for the social and economic development of our country. Without peace and security, we will be unable to implement our development programs or to attract investors to our country," Pohamba said. Safety and Security Minister Dr. Nickey Iyambo added that the launch of the unit comes at a time when Namibia gears up to fight cross-border crime, specifically with the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, as well as the upcoming CAF African Cup of Nations in Angola. SOURCE: www.newera.com.na APSA CFO Resigns From Board Citing personal reasons, longtime APSA CFO Bill Wilkens resigned from his position on the APSA Board of Directors last month just prior to the Board's January 2009 meeting. Bill served the Association admirably for over 13 years as a Board member. He had chosen previously not to seek reelection this year. APSA President Dan Schwarzbach will also perform the duties of CFO until July, when he takes over the position fulltime. We wish Bill well in his future endeavors and extend to him our heartfelt thanks for a job well done. Police Helicopter Visits Local Elementary School
Louisiana police, who have four planes in addition to the helicopters, use the aircraft for multiple purposes. Students got a closer look at the twin-blade aircraft, as Smith explained about the helicopter's different parts and opened the floor to questions. After talking about their jobs, state troopers asked the students who had interest in becoming a police officer. Nearly all the students raised their hands. They were then allowed to get close to the chopper and walk around it, looking at it inside and out, but no touching. Southdown's principal, William Simmons, said the presentation was a great opportunity to show the students careers that await them if they work hard and stay in school. SOURCE: www.dailycomet.com Maryland Seeks Bids for New Police Helicopters
A request for proposals was released January 30 by the Maryland Department of Transportation and bids are due by March 17, 2009. The Maryland State Police Aviation Command has 11 Dauphin twin jet engine helicopters. The five oldest helicopters were purchased in 1989. Increasing flight hours on the aircraft have contributed to more down time as the helicopters undergo required inspections and maintenance. SOURCE: www.bizjournals.com APSA Exhibits at Heli-Expo
Botswana Police Service Takes Flight Two A-Star helicopters were acquired by the Botswana Police Service last month, and a third helicopter will be delivered in August. The helicopters will be used for crime prevention efforts, intelligence driven operations and the search and recovery of stolen vehicles, among other things. The Minister of Justice, Defense and Security, Dikgakgamatso Seretse, said the delivery represents another milestone for the police service and the safety and security of Batswana, Africa. He noted that the helicopters would enhance the capacity of the police to fight crime. "As we all know, police visibility deters crime and evidence of effective crime fighting increases national confidence," said the minister. SOURCE: www.gov.bw Regional Park District Acquires Replacement Helicopter
Over the years, the Eagle program has evolved from a strictly law enforcement operation into a modern multi-mission program which now includes firefighting, emergency medical service, search & rescue, and logistical services supporting park operations. To the overall operation of the park district, the helicopters have become a necessary tool to protect lives and property. East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) is a special district operating the largest regional park agency in the nation with 65 regional public parks and over 1,100 miles of trails in California's Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The district encompasses 1,745 square miles on the eastern side of San Francisco Bay. EBRPD employs over 600 employees including its own police and fire divisions. SOURCE: East Bay Regional Park District Monterey County Sheriff Suspends Helicopter Patrols
In 2008 alone, the helicopter flew approximately 500 hours, over half of which was focused on calls for service and the remainder in patrol coverage. Some of the accomplishments of Star 1 last year included directly being responsible for five felony arrests and assisting in 37 other felony arrests; directly responsible for five misdemeanor arrests and assisting in 18 others; first on scene at 188 calls with an average response time of 3.3 minutes; provided back-up on 344 calls and was able to cancel ground units in 40 calls; involved in 10 vehicle pursuits and 20 foot pursuits, resulting in 22 in custody; located 11 missing persons and three stolen cars; as well as countless surveillance opportunities. SOURCE: http://thecalifornian.com Police Aircrew Stop Burglary in Progress
The pilot and a tactical flight officer began circling above a home after a resident hiding in a closet called to alert police that her home was being broken into. When the helicopter arrived, two suspects hopped into an SUV and tried to flee. In their haste, two more suspects were left chasing the getaway car from behind. "I think they were so rattled by the helicopter being there that the person driving the vehicle took off and left his buddies there," the pilot said. Three suspects were apprehended by officers on foot because of direction provided from 500 feet overhead. A fourth man was arrested after a confrontation with an officer. In addition to its duties with the Pasadena Police Department, the Air Operations Section also lends its services to 10 nearby cities as part of its participation in the Foothill Air Support Team. Five helicopters, some of them military surplus, make up the air operations fleet. A sixth is housed in a separate hangar and used as part of a multi-agency task force. The air unit typically logs about nine total hours of flight time per day responding to calls and patrolling crime prone neighborhoods. Capt. Bob Mulhall credits the "omnipresence" of the helicopter as its greatest deterrent value. A helicopter's involvement in a high-speed chase almost always leads to an arrest. SOURCE: www.contracostatimes.com 'Air One' Is Essential Police Tool
RCMP Inspector Amrik Virk says high speed police pursuits can easily result in injuries, death and costly insurance settlements, but Air One has radically cut the need for police chases. "You hear from tactical flight officers about the number of potential high speed pursuits they get involved in, dozens and dozens of them. Preventing any one of them alone justifies the expenditure on these types of assets." RCMP listed a number of incidents during last month alone where the helicopter assisted in arrests. Inspector Virk says he cannot imagine a budget-trimming politician would feel the cost of Air One is unjustified. He believes the chopper has a bright future in police work. SOURCE: www.news1130.com Laser Directed at North Carolina Aircrew
The department said the use of lasers to distract aircraft is a nationwide concern. It's especially dangerous in Wilmington, a city which sits close to its airport, and which has a variety of traffic flying overhead. “This place is extremely busy with smaller jet traffic,” SABLE pilot Peter Letson said. “Something like that could definitely cause a safety issue.” With police work, any light shined at a helicopter could also put the crew's ability to communicate with officers on the ground at risk, he said. The suspect was released on bond. SOURCE: www.starnewsonline.com NTSB's Findings Don't Resolve Fate of Police Air Unit The future of the Topeka (KS) Police Department's helicopter program will remain unresolved through early 2009 while safety and budget issues are addressed, city officials said last month as a National Safety Transportation Board (NTSB) report emerged on the cause of the unit's Robinson R-44 crash last spring. It determined a mechanical malfunction led to the accident. Funding for the helicopter unit's 2009 operation had already been slashed by $100,000 after Police Chief Ron Miller cited that April 5 crash and safety issues as reasons for grounding the program. NTSB determined a mechanical malfunction in the aircraft's ignition system was the probable cause of the accident. Mixed readings and warnings on the control panel indicated high engine speed and low rotor speed, leading pilots to make an emergency landing. The helicopter's main rotor blades clipped a light pole while making an emergency landing, ultimately causing the aircraft to crash onto its side. Limited sight during the evening flight may have contributed to the accident. SOURCE: http://cjonline.com Chicago Hosts Eastern Region Safety Seminar The Chicago Police Department's Aviation Unit will host APSA's upcoming Eastern Region Safety Seminar on March 25-27, 2009. Discounted room rates are available until March 5, 2009, so schedule your trip now. Click here for the educational agenda. For more information, contact Eastern Region Director Kurt Frisz at (314) 575-4344, or via e-mail at kfrisz@PublicSafetyAviation.org. APSA Accepting Award Nominations & Scholarship Applications!
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. |
Mayor Richard M. Daley and Chicago (IL) Police Department officials publicly displayed the department's new $2.1-million, high-tech helicopter last month. "This aircraft is much more versatile than previous generations of helicopters," Daley said. "It can be used for traditional duties like air patrol, traffic surveillance and crowd control. And, it can also be used to bust up drug operations, for homeland security purposes and to catch fleeing suspects, even at night."
A northeast Ohio man who shined a green laser into the cockpits of a police helicopter and several other aircraft last year was sentenced to three years in prison. Cuyahoga County prosecutors say the 26-year-old pled guilty to several felonies, as well as separate drug dealing charges, and was sentenced last month.
The helicopter unit of the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff's Office will be grounded as of March 1. The Sheriff's Office is facing tough budget times and no longer can afford to operate the unit or retain the three crewmembers. The Sheriff's Office has had an air unit since October 2001, which consists of two military surplus OH-58 helicopters, three pilots, three deputies and an aviation logistics specialist.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) said last month that Idaho's three airplanes are a cost-effective way for police, emergency crews and state officials to travel. Leaders say the state's airplanes are a necessity and that Idaho's meager fleet pales in comparison to those of nearby states. Lawmakers had asked the ITD to justify the fact that it owns and maintains airplanes, and the agency's response explained the frugality. Idaho's newest airplane is a 30-year-old U.S. Army surplus King Air 200, given to the Idaho State Police in 1998. The other two planes are a 31-year-old Cessna 206 and a 37-year-old Cessna 182.
"Experience isn't expensive; it's priceless," which is why you should travel to Savannah, GA, July 22-25, 2009 and be a voice in this year's annual conference! You'll find all the details and activities at
An Air Wing Division of the Namibian Police Force in South Africa was launched with much pomp and ceremony last month as President Hifikepunye Pohamba commissioned the first helicopter. Pohamba said the Air Wing was established to boost operational efficiency of the police, and that the division would assist in operations to pursue fleeing criminals, especially over difficult terrain. Resources will be made available to strengthen and expand the Air Wing by upgrading its fleet and training the unit's personnel. Police plan to acquire one more helicopter in the 2012-13 financial year.
All of Southdown Elementary School's nearly 500 students packed the stadium bleachers last month for a special visit from the Louisiana State Police. Two state police pilot officers flew in on a Bell 206 helicopter, one of the agency's seven whirlybirds. After the aircraft's arrival, State Trooper Gilbert Dardar delivered a brief safety talk to the students, encouraging them to always buckle their safety belts. He was followed by Senior Pilot Keith Smith who spoke about the purpose of aircraft within the state police.
Governor Martin O'Malley unveiled his fiscal 2010 budget last month, a spending plan that includes $40 million in capital funds to be used for two new Maryland State Police helicopters. “Maryland's medevac program is a national model for first responders and is responsible for saving thousands of lives each year,” said O'Malley. "Public safety is the most important priority of any government. In order to ensure that our first responders have the best and safest equipment possible, we must move ahead in the replacement of our aging fleet of helicopters," he said.
The APSA will once again exhibit at Helicopter Association International's Heli-Expo 2009, February 22-24. Heli-Expo is the largest helicopter exhibition in the world. Come by booth #1510 and visit with President Dan Schwarzbach, Secretary Martin Jackson, Executive Director Steve Ingley, and Operations Manager Nicole Gentile. 
The East Bay Regional (CA) Park District's Department of Public Safety placed its new helicopter into service in December. The 2008 AS350 B3 replaces an earlier generation helicopter operated by the district since 1986. Operated by the District's Air Support Unit, the new A-Star call sign is “Eagle 7” and joins its sister aircraft “Eagle 6” to provide service for residents in the greater East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. The East Bay Regional Park District has been operating helicopters in public safety roles continuously since 1972.
Due to the current budget crisis and an estimated $3 million budget shortfall by mid-2009, the Monterey County (CA) Sheriff's Office has decided to suspend its helicopter program. Other measures the sheriff has taken to close the budget gap include a hiring freeze and realignment of staff as well as reduction of overtime and training. According to a statement issued by the Sheriff's Office, the decision to suspend the helicopter program was not an easy one as the helicopter has proven to be a valuable law enforcement resource.
The Sheriff's Office stands to save about $50,000 a month by not deploying the helicopter.
A Pasadena (CA) Police Department Air Operations Section helicopter thwarted a home burglary in progress last month. It led to the arrests of four suspects police believe could be linked to several area burglary cases.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police's helicopter, Air One, is too valuable to axe in the name of saving money. The helicopter has been helping police on the ground arrest crooks and dangerous drivers since July 2006.
Police arrested a 30-year-old man in early January who distracted a Wilmington (NC) Police Department's SABLE helicopter pilot by shining a red laser light at the police aircraft during a night patrol mission. After the laser light flashed into the pilot's eyes, he put on night vision goggles to protect his eyes, before the beam hit the helicopter a second time. Using the helicopter's FLIR camera, officers in the helicopter directed police on the ground to the laser's source. Officers arrested the suspect and charged him with interference with a flight crew.
APSA is now 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 
