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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. Sting Finds Marijuana & Weapons
Many concerned citizens saw the helicopters and phoned 9-1-1 to find out if they were in danger. "Once people knew what we were doing up there, we received a lot of calls from the public who provided information," said Commander D/Lt. Mark Opra in a news report. "They gave us other areas to look. We had a lot of help that lead directly to growing operations." More than 700 marijuana plants were seized from both indoor and outdoor sites. Officers confiscated 35 long guns, six handguns, one sub-machine gun and an undisclosed amount of cash from more than 14 residences. SOURCE: www.countypress.com Crash Survivor Donates Money to Hospital A Sacramento County (CA) Sheriff's Office deputy who survived a helicopter crash gave $250,000 to Mercy San Juan Trauma Center last month. Eric Henrikson, 31, credits the facility for saving his life after the July 13, 2005 crash that killed fellow deputies Joseph Kievernagel, 36, and Kevin Blount, 29, when the helicopter slammed into a hillside and rolled down a ravine. The deputies were responding to a burglary call. Henrikson asked that some of the funds be to be earmarked for specialized education for trauma nurses, with the remainder to benefit trauma areas with the greatest need. "What they did for me was a miracle," Henrikson said in a written statement. "I know how committed the people at Mercy San Juan are to the Trauma Center and that they have an excellent program. But if something I can do can make it even a little better, then I want to be there for them the way they were there for me." SOURCE: www.sacbee.com Bavaria Orders Eight New Police Helicopters
"In view of the ever-growing demands on police work," says Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann, "We are making this new purchase to provide our police helicopter squadron with the latest machines including customized police equipment. In the 1970s, police helicopters were used only for traffic monitoring. Since then, they have adopted a variety of other tasks, including crime fighting, missing-persons searches, support in disaster relief missions, and the handling of special traffic and mission situations. Our police helicopter squadron is in service 24 hours a day and requires the best equipment available to support its work." SOURCE: www.rotor.com Baltimore Police Buy Mission Management System
Designed to put a wealth of information and control at the fingertips of the operator, UltiChart™ is the next-generation moving map system for public safety applications from the company. Through seamless integration with the aircraft's FLIR Ultra 8000 series camera payload and other systems, the crew can keep their attention focused on accomplishing the mission, not on the operation of the hardware. Through this contract, Baltimore County Police joins more than 150 law enforcement, fire and public safety agencies worldwide that have implemented AeroComputers mission mapping systems. SOURCE: AeroComputers  Man Rescued From Ocean Cliff A Sonoma County Sheriff's Department helicopter helped a 51-year-old man who had fallen into the ocean south of California's Rodeo Beach while fishing last month. After the victim fell from a 100-foot cliff, he was injured and unable to climb to safety. The department's Henry-1 helicopter was dispatched to the scene to set up a long line rescue to connect a paramedic who was dropped next to the man. The paramedic secured him to a rescue stretcher and they were both flown away from the cliff to an awaiting ambulance. Source: http://cbs5.com
Police Find & Seize Pot Garden McDowell County (WV) Sheriff's Office seized 4,000 mature, 12-foot pot plants last month with the help of a West Virginia Army National Guard helicopter. According to Sgt. W.C. Tupper, the street value of the marijuana is about $8 million. Tupper said that the troopers and deputies did not find any elaborate irrigation systems or booby traps at the sites. He said the pot growers used fertilizer and weeded the plots, and pointed out that the 4,000 plants is not the largest haul that police have made in recent years. "We got 9,000 plants three years ago," Tupper said. "Still, this is a substantial eradication." SOURCE: www.bdtonline.com Manchester Police Welcome Aircraft
The new aircraft will replace GMPA's previous MD Explorer that had accumulated 8,000 hours over the last seven years. The new helicopter entered service immediately upon acceptance, but there will be a formal launch ceremony in Manchester this month. SOURCE: www.shephard.co.uk Police Force In Uganda To Revive Air Wing Uganda Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, accepted an unassembled chopper, manufactured by Augusta, last month. “It is great to see the Air Wing (of the Uganda Police Force) getting its wings back. The force will be able to respond rapidly to accidents and other emergencies,” Kayihura said. The helicopter will also be used in rescue missions, evacuations and VIP transport. A team from Augusta will assemble the chopper and carry out test flights, the police chief added. He explained that Agusta would work with a police team that would later manage the aircraft. The Police Air Wing has been inactive while their only chopper has been grounded for years, due to a technical problem. “It will be repaired so that we can have two helicopters,” said Kayihura. SOURCE: www.newvision.co.ug Malaysia To Acquire 21 Helicopters The Royal Malaysian Police Department, or Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) in Malay, received approval last month for their request for 21 helicopters of various types. At present, the force has 12 helicopters, used for patrolling and crime prevention purposes. The Royal Malaysian Police cooperates closely with police forces from the four neighboring countries that they share borders with: Indonesian National Police, Royal Brunei Police Force, Royal Thai Police and Singapore Police Force. SOURCE: www.bernama.com Laser Attack on UK Police Helicopter
The incident sparked a police search for the culprit, who was apprehended a short time later by the aircraft's thermal imaging. When interrogated, the man, who is receiving mental health care, said he knew his actions had been dangerous and said, "Yes, it would dazzle them and they may crash." A spokeswoman for Suffolk Crown Prosecution Service said in a news report, "This type of offense is becoming more common across the country with potentially serious consequences. CPS Suffolk therefore felt it was very important to bring this offender to justice in view of the serious nature of his actions. The pilot and crew should be commended for their skill and quick reactions which ensured that this dangerous act did not end in tragedy." SOURCE: www.eveningstar.co.uk Council Votes to Put New Aircraft In Service Lake County Commissioners in Indiana approved a $2.2 million aircraft purchase last month, but only after Sheriff Roy Dominguez committed to making cuts elsewhere in his 2009 budget. County government must cut $15 million from its current budget because of a state-mandated property tax cut set to begin next year. Commissioners signed an agreement to approve a seven-year lease-purchase agreement to help fund the new helicopter. The sheriff promised to use $444,000 of a federal grant, $1.1 million in fees he has collected in the past two years from mortgage companies who need the sheriff's help in foreclosing on homes, a $180,000 insurance settlement from the crash of an earlier helicopter, and the sale of two 37-year-old helicopters now in use. SOURCE: www.post-trib.com Crackdown Takes Drugs, Weapons and Suspects Off Streets
SOURCE: www.myfoxal.com Tons of Marijuana Hauled by Helicopter
SOURCE: www.kesq.com Copter Proves Worth in Arrest Rate
Providing service to three counties, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Leicestershire, a total of 166 people were arrested during the last year as a result of searches by the East Midlands Air Support Unit. Supt Mark Lacey, head of operations at Northamptonshire Police said, "The figures for the first quarter of this year show that the arrest rate and the number of arrests the helicopter assisted with are both up compared to the same period in 2007." SOURCE: www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/ New Member Benefit – Long Term Care Insurance at Reduced Rates
Call today for a free LTC planning guide 800-616-8759 or click here to request more information. Does Your Unit Perform Aerial Firefighting Missions? Air Beat needs you. Our next issue of Air Beat magazine is focusing on this topic. We'd like to encourage you to share photos, news or information from your agency. Call Lisa Wright at 727-343-5600 or emailairbeat@PublicSafetyAviation.org today. The deadline for consideration is September 29, 2008. Safety Seminar Coming to Montreal The Quebec Provincial Police Department will host the APSA's 2008 Canadian Region Safety Seminar in Montreal, Canada. The two-day event will take place October 22-24, 2008. Educational sessions planned include water survival, safety management systems, thermal imaging, crew resource management, laser assaults, hoist rescues and special teams deployment. You may register now by clicking http://archives.alea.org/public/seminars/canadian/cr_reg.aspx or by calling the APSA home office at 301-631-2406. |
Led by sightings from a helicopter, Lapeer County (MI) Sheriff's Office, Michigan State Police Aviation, Michigan National Guard, and police officers from surrounding counties cooperated in a four-day raid of illegal fields of green last month, which was called Operation HEMP (Help Eliminate Marijuana Production).
The Bavarian Ministry of the Interior purchased eight new Eurocopter EC135 P2i helicopters for the Bavarian Police Helicopter Squadron last month. To be outfitted with state-of-the-art police equipment, the EC135s are slated for delivery between September 2009 and April 2010.
The Baltimore County (MD) Police Department has entered a deal with AeroComputers, Inc., a leader in tactical mission management systems. Valued at over $395,000, the contract includes UltiChart™ moving map systems, digital video recorders, rugged display monitors and high-precision inertial measurement units.
The Greater Manchester Police Authority (GMPA) in the United Kingdom took delivery last month of its new MD Explorer aircraft. MD Helicopters' distributor, Police Aviation Services Ltd, have worked closely with police observers to develop an entirely new suite of role equipment to make it one of the most sophisticated police helicopters in its class.
A police helicopter pilot was praised last month in the United Kingdom after his quick-thinking actions averted a tragedy when a man shone a laser at the aircraft, rendering him incapable of seeing the aircraft's controls. The Crown Prosecution Service said that this was the first time in Suffolk, and only the second time in the country, that someone had been prosecuted for the offense, which can result in up to two years in prison.
Jefferson County (AL) Sheriff's Office deputies conducted a weeklong drug sweep at the end of July. The drug sweep involved deputies on the ground and in the air onboard the department's Star 1 helicopter. Deputies seized $50,000 worth of marijuana plants, $160,000 worth of heroin, $10,000 of cocaine, and about a thousand dollars worth of pills. Investigators also seized 13 weapons and nearly $4,000 in cash. Four suspects have been arrested and seven more arrests are pending.
Near the Santa Rosa Mountains last month, the Riverside County (CA) Sheriff's Department was busy hauling in over 50,000 plants from a large marijuana grove. Bushels of marijuana were flown out every ten minutes in a constant operation that saw few breaks in the action during two days of operation. The aircrew found the grove during a flyover, and during the next two weeks, deputies and National Guard troops teamed up for this bust.
The East Midlands Air Support Unit in the United Kingdom released figures to indicate the effectiveness of their new helicopter. Between April and June of this year, 69 people were arrested thanks to the work of the helicopter team, with the air support unit assisting in the arrests of 84 more.
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