Primary Duties
 | Major
Event Command & Control
and Homeland Security
|
| Rapid
Damage Assessment in a
terrorist attack or
natural disaster.
|
| Patrol
and Detective Support
|
|
High-Speed Pursuits
|
| Search
& Rescue (urban and
wilderness)
|
|
Interagency Support
|
|
Surveillance for
intelligence and
investigative units
|
| Civil
Disturbance and large
demonstration crowd
control and incident
management |
Capabilities
| Forward
Looking Infrared (FLIR)
|
|
20-million candlepower
“Night Sun” searchlight |
|
Specialized radio tracking
equipment to locate stolen
vehicles (LoJack)
|
| Search
& Rescue
 |
Locating lost/missing
people: Project
Lifesaver |
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Inserting rescuers into
remote locations |
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|
Platform for aerial
photography and digital
video of large outdoor
locations (e.g., crime
scenes and disaster
damage, etc.)
|
| Aerial
communications platform
equipped to communicate
with local, state and
federal law enforcement
agencies and fire fighting
agencies on their
frequencies. |
Air Support Services and
Missions
Force Multiplier
A
law enforcement helicopter
is often referred to as a
“force multiplier.” It has
become an indispensable part
of the Sheriff’s Office.
Nationwide studies have
shown that helicopter/car
teams have a felony arrest
rate as high as six times
that of car teams alone. A
helicopter has been shown to
“back up” as many as
twenty-six ground vehicles
within its geographic area
of responsibility. The
helicopter’s aerial
advantage gives it about 15
times the surveillance
capability of a ground unit.
This vantage point, plus the
speed in which a helicopter
can get a trained observer
over a crime scene, provides
containment that often
essentially assures an
arrest. It does so
efficiently, without having
to pull other patrol units
from their areas of
responsibility.
Patrol
Studies show that the
constant and persistent
presence of a patrolling
helicopter suppresses crime.
Burglaries are reduced by up
to 30%, while street crimes
such as rape, robbery, auto
theft, etc., can be cut in
half by the presence of a
helicopter. A helicopter’s
vantage point permits
observation of activities
not seen by ground officers,
such as on rooftops and in
fenced yards. At normal
patrol speeds and altitudes,
a helicopter can keep an
object in view on the ground
ten times longer than a
ground officer moving at
normal street patrol
speeds. Our helicopters are
equipped with tracking
equipment capable of stolen
vehicles. We have color and
forward looking infrared
(FLIR) cameras and a
20 million-candle power
spotlight that enable us to
find suspects at night.
Interagency
Support
In
addition to its many law
enforcement applications,
the helicopter may be
required to assist other
agencies in diversified
missions. We have assisted
the United States Coast
Guard and local law
enforcement with a wide
variety of surveillances and
other missions.
Search and Rescue
The
helicopter’s excellent
visibility and the ability
to hover make it a very
effective Search & Rescue
(SAR) vehicle. It can
search large areas quickly,
allowing ground searchers to
concentrate their efforts in
other search areas. It can
land in remote areas to
insert rescuers and to
evacuate victims. The time
saved could easily mean the
difference between life and
death. With our powerful
searchlights and thermal
imaging equipment, the
helicopter is effective even
during darkness.
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