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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. The E-Newsletter may also be read online here at our website. Act Fast: Federal Grant Monies Available
The allocations for each state's jurisdictions have been set by the U.S. Department of Justice. Agencies can view what jurisdictions in their states are receiving atwww.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/recoveryJAG/recoveryallocations.html. These funds are distributed by state administrative agencies. A list is available at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/saa/. The deadline for grant applications is May 18, 2009 by 8 p.m. EST. Law enforcement agencies must act quickly to take advantage of the funds available. For application instructions or an overview of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, visit www.ojp.gov/recovery. Call for Entries: 14th Annual FLIR Vision Awards
The entry deadline is June 12, 2009. First place winners receive a generous donation to the air unit's favorite charity, a traveling trophy for the air unit to display, Vision Award leather flight jackets and office plaques. Second and third place winners receive a generous donation to the air unit's favorite charity, Vision Award apparel and office plaques. For more information, please visit www.flir.com/vision or contact your local FLIR representative. Questions may be directed to Haley Barclay at FLIR Systems by phone at 503-498-3293 or email athaley.barclay@flir.com. Air Unit Back in Service Before Derby
Last month, Air 20 was flown back to Louisville from Phoenix. Within hours of landing, it was flying its first patrol, providing air support for the Thunder Over Louisville event. The aircraft will patrol during the Kentucky Derby on May 2. News reports give the reason it took nearly two years for Air 20 to be repaired after its crash in August 2006 was due to insurance issues and problems finding replacement parts. The total repair cost was $800,000 and was covered by the insurance company. Source: www.wave3.com New Tools to Help UK Police Crack Down on Laser Assaults There has been a "phenomenal" increase in the number of incidents in which aircraft are targeted by small hand-held lasers, according to UK police. The Civil Aviation Authority has set up a task force to respond to the threat of pilots becoming disorientated and have new devices designed to record and analyze laser "strikes" on their aircraft, tracking their source and leading to arrests of attackers.
Police currently have to prove a suspect recklessly or negligently endangered an aircraft. The Civil Aviation Authority is drawing up new laws under which it will simply be an offense to shine a laser at an aircraft. Bob Jones, head of flight operations at the CAA remarked, "To those individuals targeting aircraft with laser devices, the message is clear - don't. You will be caught, prosecuted and you could spend up to five years in prison. These things are not toys, they pose a serious risk to all flight safety." Source: www.news.bbc.co.uk Aircraft Helps Police Catch Speeders
Trooper Darwin Justice and 14 other pilots with the Ohio State Highway Patrol use airplanes to help other patrol posts in Ohio to enforce traffic, he said, adding those aircraft can help issue as many violations in one hour as one post's troopers can in a day. Authorities hope their high visibility and strict enforcement on Ohio's crash-prone highways will not only slow people down, but reduce the number of accidents. Source: www.lancastereaglegazette.com SOAR: Unconventional Aircraft Unit Launched
A powered paraglider is a portable and inexpensive motorized aircraft. It can be packed so small that it can fit in the backseat of a standard size patrol vehicle. The major advantage of this aircraft for law enforcement is its ability to fly “low and slow”. A paraglider flies up to 42 mph. Speed is increased with a tailwind and reduced with a headwind. Fuel capacity is limited to 2-3 gallons, allowing for a maximum flight time of about two to three hours. Standard distances covered are about 70 miles. The department intends on using this aircraft for search and rescue operations for missing endangered children and adults, surveillance and reconnaissance, locating stolen and discarded vehicles and other property, identifying hazards within the city, photographing crime scenes and damage assessment after disasters. Source: www.palmbayflorida.org/police Aircrew Helps Return Elderly Man Home
''We searched the neighborhood last night with some K-9 units and started again this morning,'' said Captain Robert Samuelson of the Jamestown Police Department. ''Then about 30 seconds after we had the support of the helicopter, they spotted him.'' Sources say the man may be suffering from Alzheimer's disease or dementia, which may have caused him to become disoriented on his journey home. ''He was very cold, but lucky, given the situation,'' Samuelson said. ''The Sheriff's Department helicopter is an excellent tool and it made all the difference in this case.'' Source: http://post-journal.com Arkansas Agency Conducts UAV Testing
"We plan on using it for our SWAT-type things, where we have a house, a barricaded suspect, we can put the aircraft in the air and hover over the house and check the perimeter and make sure no one is trying to escape the perimeter,” said Montgomery. "The aircraft has a thermal camera. It has a color camera on board. It can fly completely autonomously." The North Little Rock Police Department is authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct test flights. They have 30 hours of test flights under their belt, and they've gone through extensive training. Once they achieve a certain number of hours, they will then apply to fly the UAV in the city by the end of this year. Seven officers are currently trained to run the aircraft. Source: http://arkansasmatters.com Police Seek Funds for Copter
Source: www.2theadvocate.com Helicopter's Egg Drop Draws Crowd
The New Hanover County Sheriff's Office donated the services of its helicopter to the church-sponsored event. Seized drug money paid for the helicopter's fuel during the egg drop. The church also rented inflatable bouncing machines and had a monster truck and carnival games to keep the many Easter basket-toting kids occupied between egg drops. Source: www.starnewsonline.com Sheriff Requests $7 Million in Stimulus Funds
According to the grant proposal, most of the money would be spent leasing and staffing a helicopter to augment law enforcement activities on the ground. A vendor would provide, maintain and fuel the aircraft, along with three contract pilots. Four deputies would serve as tactical flight officers. The county already operates a single-engine, four-seat airplane donated last year by a talk radio host's anti-illegal immigration group. Source: www.chron.com Aero Dynamix and Shadin Avionics Sign Strategic Agreement
Source: Aero Dynamix, Inc. Teenager Fined After Helicopter Incident
The teenager admitted to an offense of harassment and, in addition to being fined about $350, he was ordered to pay court costs. The attorney described his client's behavior as foolish, but said it wasn't premeditated. Source: www.eveningstar.co.uk SAPS Scrap UAV Purchase Plans The South African Police Service (SAPS) has scrapped its plans to buy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to monitor the 2010 FIFA World Cup stadiums. “As far as I know, the UAVs are the only pieces of equipment which were not bought,” said SAPS spokesman Vish Naidoo. “We believed that the more viable option was to purchase the six Robinson R44 Raven II helicopters. There are no plans to buy any UAVs in the near future.” The SAPS had initially announced that it would purchase 10 UAVs, one for each stadium. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), which showcased the first flight of its modular UAV to the public in January, says legislation prevents small aircrafts from being flown in civilian areas for safety reasons. “Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have been deployed largely in the military domain and, as such, do not comply with the civil airworthiness code as prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organization's Standards and Recommended Practices and the civil aviation legislation in South Africa,” explains Andy Mamba, the Civil Aviation Authority's UAS manager. “This, therefore, means UAS may not be legally deployed in civil airspace.” The South African Civil Aviation Authority established a UAS standards working group last year to address the issue of UAVs in civilian airspace. Mamba says his department is tasked with the safe integration of UAVs into civil airspace, but this “is going to take a long time”. The CSIR believes UAVs can still be of use to the police in more remote locations. The council says the SAPS should be able to purchase the unmanned aircraft for the purpose of monitoring the borders and coastal regions. Source: www.itweb.co.za Texas Department Takes Part In Technology Program
The program is a federally supported initiative designed to explore how useful alternative types of aircraft can be in assisting local law enforcement agencies. “It's another tool we have at our disposal,” Sheriff Bob Holder said. The plane is being paid for entirely by the grant with the exception of fuel costs. Source: www.herald-zeitung.com Nominations Being Taken for IACP's Excellence in Police Aviation Award
Narrative submissions endorsed by the agency head are due by May 31, 2009. Copies of articles and photographs may accompany the narrative submission, but no audio or videotapes will be considered. Please click here for additional information or call 800-843-4227 x 836. The awards will be presented during the 116th Annual IACP Conference & Exposition on October 3, 2009. APSA Conference Nears: Air Beat Previews Highlights
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The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides assistance to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to prevent crime and improve the U.S. criminal justice system while supporting the creation of jobs and providing resources. This support is available for the purchase of equipment, supplies, information systems, technical assistance, training, personnel, public safety software and technology. Approximately $2 billion has been made available through the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program.
Got a bust worthy of a fuss? The FLIR Vision Awards are presented annually to three law enforcement airborne crews for the "best" thermal imagery of a rescue, pursuit, apprehension, surveillance or other air unit mission that knocks our socks off! Awards will be presented on July 23, 2009 during the Pig Pickin' Party at the 
After nearly two years of repairs, Louisville (KY) Metro Police Department (LMPD) has their primary “Air 20” helicopter back. Since the city sold its only working police chopper a year ago, whenever LMPD needed a helicopter, they had to borrow it from either the Kentucky National Guard or Kentucky State Police.
The Laser Event Recorder not only takes a picture of the attack and logs where it came from using GPS, but also analyzes the wavelength of the laser being used. It can also warn the police if the laser is powerful enough or close enough to cause physical damage to the eyes. This can be compared with the specifications of the device used in the attack, providing vital new evidence. "It's a little bit like matching a bullet to a gun," said veteran pilot Mike Briggs of the Greater Manchester Police in a news report.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol and Fairfield County Sheriff's Office conducted a weeklong traffic initiative last month. Using a calibrated stopwatch to time vehicles passing large targets along the side of the roadway, an Aviation Section trooper pilot monitored and radioed down to ground officers to watch out for approaching violators.
The Palm Bay (FL) Police Department has created a new aviation unit called SOAR (Search Operations Aerial Response), which will be using an unconventional aircraft called a powered paraglider. No other agency in the United States currently uses this form of aircraft for law enforcement purposes, making this program the first of its kind.
A missing elderly man was found last month after the Jamestown (NY) Police Department enlisted the support of the Chautauqua County (NY) Sheriff's Department and its Starflight helicopter.
North Little Rock (AK) Police Department conducted unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV) test flights last month in Lonoke County. Department spokesman, Leonard Montgomery, explained that the police department has 24 fixed cameras around the city, but they can't be moved quickly to other locations. The unmanned aircraft will allow them to find missing children when time is of the essence, either on land or in water. It can see who is selling drugs at intersections, or what's going on at big events.
Baton Rouge (LA) Police Department may soon have an eye in the sky, thanks to $946,000 in federal economic stimulus money earmarked to purchase a Robinson R-44 police helicopter. “The advantages gained from aerial pursuit and surveillance of criminals provides a level of security not previously seen in Baton Rouge,” Mayor Kip Holden said last month to city council members. The mayor noted that three city police officers are already certified to fly helicopters. The proposed $946,389 budget also includes funds to train additional officers to pilot the helicopter.
About 30,000 plastic eggs rained down on a ball field at Ashley High School (NC) last month for the first Helicopter Egg Drop. The only thing more impressive than the number of eggs falling from a New Hanover (NC) County Sheriff's Office helicopter for the three egg hunts (for different age groups) was the number of participants, close to 10,000 parents and children.
Harris County (TX) Sheriff Adrian Garcia wants to apply for a $7 million grant to lease and staff a helicopter, buy a covert surveillance van, and add machine guns to boats that patrol the Houston Ship Channel through a U.S. Justice Department grant program that has allocated $2 billion in stimulus funding to make neighborhoods safer. If approved, the Sheriff's Homeland Security Bureau would use the equipment.
Aero Dynamix General Manager Dennis Trout (left) signs an exclusive agreement with Shadin Avionics to modify all manufactured units for night vision equipment (NVE) compatible operation. Aero Dynamix will modify and inventory NVE compatible fuel computers to broaden their ever-widening menu of services in support of the growth of rotorcraft upgrades to operate in night vision environments. Pictured here are Shadin Avionics' Senior Business Development Manager Ed Gaines (middle) and Aero Dynamix Repair Station Manager Mike Guinn (right).
A 19-year-old who shone a high-powered laser at the UK's Suffolk Police Authority helicopter walked free from court after being spared a prison sentence last month. The judge said the teenager had made the pilot's job “a little more difficult” rather than endangering the safety of the aircraft.
The Comal County (TX) Sheriff's Office received approval last month to take part in the National Institute of Justice Law Enforcement's Aviation Technology Program, giving the Sheriff's Office a small, fixed-wing airplane called the Tecnam Eaglet to use to locate suspects and gather information.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) annually accepts nominations for two international awards presented by the IACP Aviation Committee. One award is to recognize an individual who holds a management or leadership position in police aviation, and a second to an aviation unit that exemplifies excellence in airborne law enforcement. These two awards will emphasize initiatives to enhance the general level and safety of operations, accident prevention programs, and the efficiency and effectiveness of airborne law enforcement.
