ALEA’s E-Newsletter is designed to help keep you informed on the very latest information in the airborne law enforcement industry.

The Cops for Kids Fly-In is a non-profit organization that tries to help make a difference in the lives of sick children. This annual event has been held for 10 years in Southern California; the last three hosted by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department Air Operations Bureau.

To get involved, take up a collection of new unwrapped toys from your unit, department or community. Aviation unit hats, t-shirts, stickers and other giveaways are always appreciated in addition to toys. Fly or drive the toys to Mather Airport on June 4. All in attendance will be driven to the Shriner’s and UC Davis’ Hospitals to deliver the toys and visit with the kids. For your efforts, you will be rewarded with hugs and smiles and knowing you made the difference in a sick child’s life. We’ll then return to the airport for a catered lunch and professional development.

Cops for Kids Fly-In’s main members and participants are airborne law enforcement professionals and agencies. The event has been recognized by the ALEA as recipients of the Robert L. Cormier Memorial Award for excellence in community support involving airborne law enforcement.

All donations are tax deductible. For more information, contact Deputy Jeff Werblun, Sacramento Sheriff’s Department at (916) 875-7046 or via email at jwerblun@sacsheriff.com.

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Sheriff's Office Buys Liquidated Aircraft for Police Support

Merced County (CA) Sheriff Mark Pazin officially unwrapped the department's new $400,000 green and gold 2005 Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter last month--a force multiplier that he believes will help law enforcement fight drug traffickers and access remote locations quickly.

In the past, sheriff's deputies had to depend on the generosity of the California Highway Patrol and neighboring agencies in Fresno and Stanislaus Counties when a helicopter was needed. Pazin said $200,000 of the funds used to buy the helicopter was from assets confiscated from criminal drug trafficking organizations--money that was approved by the Fresno Methamphetamine Task Force's board. Small and rural county funds also went toward the chopper. The department will also sell one of its three fixed-wing airplanes to help offset the cost of the purchase.

The helicopter was obtained from Silver State Helicopters, a Nevada-based company that recently went out of business, according to Cmdr. Tom Cavallero, one of the department's pilots. The entire process to buy the aircraft took about four months. "The fact that now we control our own destiny, with our own helicopter asset, I don't know if you can put a price tag on that," Cavallero said. "If a deputy needs help from the air, we have different options to support whatever that effort is."

SOURCE: www.losbanosenterprise.com

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United Kingdom Agencies Agree To Share Helicopter

A trial partnership to share a helicopter between neighboring Essex and Kent police agencies was made official on April 1. The aircraft will be on stand-by to assist officers on the ground in Essex or Kent for 20 hours a day, seven days a week - an extra five hours per day from Monday to Saturday and an additional six hours on a Sunday. If incidents unfold in both counties at the same time, the helicopter would be allocated to the one considered the highest priority using nationally set criteria.

Essex already has an agreement with Suffolk and Cambridgeshire police forces, which have their own helicopters. So, if one of the three is grounded, then the others can be called upon. Kent, which has never had its own helicopter, has been using Essex's on an as-needed basis since October of last year.

Chairman of Essex Police Authority Robert Chambers said, “The helicopter can be used in many different ways and makes a real difference to policing in the county. We know that Kent Police will find it an invaluable resource and we are delighted to have reached this agreement, which with its increased flying time, will undoubtedly benefit the public both sides of the water.”

Chairman of Kent Police Authority Ann Barnes said, “I'm really pleased this ideal opportunity has been created through our joint working with Essex. The Authority is very much aware of how important it is that we provide the force with the tools to do the job to protect the public. This extra resource will certainly play a key role in assisting officers on the ground with ongoing incidents.”

SOURCE: www.eadt.co.uk

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Cayman Police Helicopter Delayed

The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service reported that its new $1.8 million police patrol helicopter delivery has been delayed due to the tendering process for the helicopter’s maintenance, hangar construction and piloting services. The government approved the purchase of the 1999 Eurocopter model, which was initially to be delivered in September 2007. The aircraft will be used for police surveillance and patrol operations.

Leader of Government Business Kurt Tibbetts said last month that the government was working with the Civil Aviation Authority to get all the necessary authorizations to bring the helicopter to the islands from the United States. The RCIPS currently uses a private helicopter service, Cayman Helicopters, which is based on the island. The unit pays for that service at an hourly rate as needed.

Source: www.caycompass.com

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Mexico Purchases Aircraft for Law Enforcement

Enstrom Helicopter Corporation delivered two brand new 480B turbine helicopters last month to Mexico’s State of Guerrero. In Guerrero, the turbine-powered aircraft will be used for law enforcement purposes and are equipped with Spectrolab SX-16 searchlights, NAT public address systems, Garmin GNS 530 GPS/COM’s and Bose headsets.

According to Enstrom’s Director of Sales and Marketing Tracy Biegler, this is another step in Enstrom’s continued push into the law enforcement market. “With over 25 Guardians (law enforcement version of the 480B) delivered, and more prospects on the horizon, this market is really taking off. When you add up the numbers, the 480B is just a great law enforcement helicopter and people are finally realizing it.”

Source: www.enstromhelicopter.com 

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Russian Police to Get First Helicopter Drone

Russia's Interior Ministry will have its first unmanned helicopter by the end of this year, a deputy minister said in a news report last month. Lt. Gen. Mikhail Sukhodolsky said such aircraft would be used to provide aerial imagery of major incidents and provide assistance in special police operations, among other things. He said that in the past three years, the Interior Ministry has substantially increased the number of special-purpose air units to 15. He added that the ministry currently has helicopters equipped with modern avionics, enabling them to operate round the clock.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080422/105599175.html

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Kansas Police Helicopter Crashes

Two officers walked away with minor scratches after a Topeka Police Department helicopter made an emergency landing on a college campus last month. The Robinson R-44 helicopter sustained heavy damage, and it was unclear what caused the crash. The Helicopter Unit is now grounded until FAA and NTSB investigations are complete.

It is the third police helicopter crash in Topeka history. A spokesman said the helicopter could be a huge loss for the city, particularly after Mayor Bill Bunten vetoed the purchase of a second Robinson helicopter that the City Council narrowly agreed to buy recently.

Source: www.kansascity.com

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Border Patrol Pilot Helps Injured Ground Agent

A U.S. Border Patrol agent injured in a single vehicle accident while on patrol in Jamul, California on April 13 received quick assistance from an airborne U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) air interdiction agent who quickly landed his helicopter and rendered medical aid until paramedics arrived.

Pilot Pete Phillips received the distress call from the injured agent while on a support mission south of San Diego. Philips landed his OH-6 just nine minutes after the incident to assist with the injured officer’s head injuries. Paramedics arrived on scene soon thereafter to treat the agent. Due to the nature of the agent’s injuries, a medical air evacuation helicopter was summoned and the man was later airlifted to a local hospital for medical treatment. The agent sustained no major trauma.

“Quick action by Agent Phillips to safely land his aircraft and render immediate aid highlights the close working association between Border Patrol agents on the ground and CBP Air & Marine agents supporting overhead,” said John Murphy, director of air operations for CBP Office of Air & Marine in San Diego.

Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

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Got A Bust Worthy Of A Fuss?

Send your footage to FLIR and we may just recognize you for your airborne expertise. The FLIR Vision Awards are presented annually to the top 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! For more information and the submittal form, please visit http://www.cvs.flir.com/lawenforcement/visionawards/ or contact you local FLIR representative. Submission deadline is June 6. We look forward to seeing you all in Houston for the 30th Annual Pig Pickin' and 2008 Vision Awards on July 17, 2008!

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It's Time to Vote

If you haven't already received your ballot for the election of ALEA Board members for the 2008-2010 terms, you will soon. Take a few minutes to vote on the future leadership of your association. The ballot comes with a postage-paid, return envelope, so all you have to do is select your candidate(s) in the space provided, put the ballot in the envelope, and drop it in the mail. Results will be announced and the winners will take office during the 38th Annual Conference & Exposition in Houston in July.

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ALEA Conference Preview

Be on the lookout for your 2008 Conference Preview Issue of Air Beat Magazine to arrive soon. You’ll find details of ALEA’s educational lineup for the week of July 16-19, 2008 as well as hotel, registration and Houston city information. Online details and registration for ALEA’s 38th Annual Conference and Exposition in Houston, Texas can be found at http://www.alea.org/public/seminars/annualConference/.

 

 

 

 

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