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.

Pilot's Quick Thinking Stopped Passenger Train

Humberside (UK) Police Air Operations Section pilot, Captain Kathryn Chapman, saw disaster unfolding last month. There was an abandoned car sitting on a railroad crossing as police chased the driver on foot. Chapman saw a passenger train heading towards the vehicle at 50 mph. Flying at three times the speed of the train, Chapman dropped to about 60 feet above the ground and managed to get “ahead and just above” the train. She signaled to the driver to stop by swinging the aircraft around to face the train and flashing the aircraft's landing lights.

Realizing there was an emergency, the train driver slammed on the brakes and brought the train to a halt just 30 yards from the crossing. The train stopped successfully and nobody was injured. Chapman said the train was less than a mile from the car when she intervened. "I did have a little turn in my stomach when I saw the train coming relatively close," she said. "I increased the speed to the maximum for the aircraft and tried to position the helicopter as best I could in front of the train to draw the driver's attention."

Humberside Police Authority said the 40-year-old driver of the vehicle was arrested by officers at the scene for failing to stop and suspected drug offenses.

SOURCE: http://www.bbc.co.uk

Guard Arrested With Jet Fuel Siphoned From Police Helicopter

Police arrested a security guard in Kenya after he was found with 40 liters of jet fuel siphoned from a Kenya Police helicopter at Africa's busiest airport last month. The guard was assigned guard duties at the Air Kenya offices adjacent to the Kenya Police Air Wing at Wilson Airport. He was arrested as he was driving out of the heavily guarded airport with the jet fuel hidden in a dogcart, which he was towing.

SOURCE: http://allafrica.com

Turkey Has Big Plans For Aerial Assets

Turkey's police force is planning to purchase up to 15 helicopters to bolster the agency's capabilities amid preparations to provide the police with a greater role in fighting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). In recent months, the PKK has intensified militant attacks in large cities, where maintaining security falls under the responsibility of the Turkish police.

The department's current helicopter fleet is made up of mainly MD 600 light helicopters, which are becoming old and increasingly difficult to operate. The new helicopters should better perform police tasks including tracking suspected criminals and intervening in incidents that could erupt during mass demonstrations.

The Defense Industry Executive Committee, Turkey's highest decision-making authority, is expected to select an airframe in the near future. Next year, Turkey also plans to launch a multibillion-dollar program to design, develop and manufacture the country's new military and civilian light utility helicopter, likely with a foreign partner.

SOURCE: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com

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Judge Sentences UK Man To Six Months For Laser Incident

A 19-year-old man has been jailed for six months for dazzling a West Midlands (UK) Air Support Unit police helicopter with a laser pen. The police aircrew was investigating reports of a commercial jet being zapped by a green laser pen when their aircraft was targeted.

The man pled guilty to one charge of recklessly or negligently endangering an aircraft. His attorney said the teenager concedes this is a very serious scenario with potentially cataclysmic consequences. The attorney explained by saying that “He does express genuine remorse and is absolutely terrified about custody. He hasn't slept properly since he was arrested. He is the sort of young man who's learned his lesson.”

The judge warned the teenager that had he been sentencing him for dazzling the commercial jet, his jail term would have been a great deal longer. The judge said, “I have no doubt at the time you didn't think through what you were doing, but it was a plainly deliberate act by you.”

SOURCE: http://www.birminghammail.net

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Agency Upgrades Fleet With New EC120s

Baltimore (MD) Police Department (BPD) Aviation Unit ordered four EC120s to replace its current fleet of four EC120 aircraft last month. The new helicopters will be part of a fleet renewal program and are scheduled to start delivering in the summer of 2012. “The reasons we chose the EC120 to upgrade our fleet are the same reasons we chose the EC120s in the first place,” according to Lt. Don Bauer, BPD Aviation Commander. “It is always reliable. It's fuel efficient and quiet. Out of all the aircraft we evaluated, nothing beats the EC120 for our department and our missions.”

BPD Aviation Unit utilizes the EC120s for airborne law enforcement as well as homeland security missions. In July 2010, the department had the first EC120 in the world to reach 10,000 flight hours. The fleet now has more than 35,000 flight hours.

The new aircraft will include advanced avionics and mission equipment, including thermal imager, searchlight, moving map and video downlink systems. The aircraft is powered by a fuel-efficient Turbomeca ARRIUS 2F engine and equipped with advanced technologies, like the cockpit's Vehicle and Engine Multifunction Display (VEMD), which decrease pilot workload.

SOURCE: American Eurocopter

APSA Is Hiring; Two Positions Open

APSA has openings for two positions: Education Program Manager and Safety Program Manager. These positions will be filled by independent contractors reporting directly to the APSA Executive Director.

To ensure the best candidates are considered, APSA has released RFPs for these important roles. If you are interested in either of these positions, visit our website, www.alea.org/careers to see if you have what it takes.

Responses to the RFPs will be accepted October 1 through December 1, 2011.

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Funding Approved For New Police Helipad

The Erie County (NY) Sheriff's Department has approved funding for a new helicopter pad for the Helicopter Search & Rescue Unit, which is expected to shave valuable seconds off of the response time of its Air-1 chopper. Approval was given last month for $31,000 to purchase a remote controlled takeoff and landing dolly.

“The sheriff's A-Star helicopter responds to numerous crisis situations during the year and is successful in locating and saving many residents who were in extreme danger. I am proud to support this expenditure and the Sheriff's Office efforts in protecting the residents of Erie County,” legislator Kevin Hardwick said. “In addition, we are saving taxpayer dollars by choosing to replace the landing pad instead of refurbishing the current pad, which is outdated and would cost twice as much to repair.”

SOURCE: http://www.tonawanda-news.com

Floodlight-Pointing Man Avoids Jail Time

A United Kingdom man who shone a high-powered floodlight torch at a hovering Kent-Essex police helicopter has avoided a jail sentence. "I thought they were going to make an example of me," said the 21-year-old after he was ordered last month to pay a $1,500 fine.

Kent Police and Essex Police share the use of a helicopter. The aircrew was on a night mission to help trace a missing mental patient who was threatening to throw himself from an inspection tower. Using infrared cameras, the crew guided police on the ground to the suicidal man. As the helicopter hovered over the tower, the cockpit was filled with a blinding white light.

Pilot Captain Steve Ashcroft said at trial, "I warned other crew members and maneuvered to stop the direct light on myself. I then asked the crew to locate and record the offender." The man was quickly identified by ground officers, but he was not the only person on the ground shining lights at the helicopter; a green laser light also struck the cockpit, the pilot said.

The man's defense explained that his client had pled not guilty because police evidence showed he was not the only person to shine a light. But halfway through the pilot's evidence, the accused dramatically changed his plea to guilty. Neither the prosecution nor defense knew until the pilot explained in court that the second attack had been from a laser pen. That meant the white light that hit the cockpit had been from the accused.

The judge told the man his actions could have had "serious consequences", but he credited him with his full admission to police on the night he was arrested.

Source: www.thisiskent.co.uk

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Police Aircraft Bought From Neighboring Agency

The Long Beach (CA) Police Department Air Support Unit has been operating two 2002 EC130 B4s for the past nine years. Recently, the police department replaced those aircraft with two 2003 Eurocopter AS350 B2s which were bought from the Los Angeles County (CA) Sheriff's Department with asset forfeiture money. The aircraft will also receive upgraded equipment as a result of grant money. 

The mission of the Air Support Unit is to provide direct support to daily patrol operations as well as support for detectives and SWAT incidents. The new additions are an effort to reduce fuel and maintenance costs. 

Source: www.everythinglongbeach.com 

Brazilian Police Utilize UAVs In Rainforest

The São Paulo Environmental Police are deploying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to monitor the country's vast forest for illegal logging, drug trafficking, illegal fishing, sand mining and other crimes. Named Arara (Parrot) and Tiriba (Little Parrot), the UAVs will watch over the world's largest remaining rainforest, the Brazilian Amazon. The UAVs, using technology developed at the University of São Paulo, have a 10-foot wingspan and can be launched just by throwing them.

UAVs in Latin America are not new. Brazil's law enforcement agencies already use them to monitor drug trafficking and other crimes, and the country recently purchased 14 Israeli-made Heron drones for $350 million. But the threats in the Brazilian Amazon, if different, are no less real. As much as 60,000 square miles of forest (an area larger than Greece) have been cleared between 2000 and 2006.

SOURCE: www.fastcompany.com

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Tweeting Helps Community Connect With Aircrew

Tweeting under the name Helicops, the United Kingdom's South and East Wales Air Support Unit have more than 4,200 followers. The aviation unit reports that Twitter is proving an effective weapon in their battle against crime and disorder.

"We decided to start using Twitter for a number of reasons, particularly because we were trying to engage more with the public," said Inspector Gary Smart, who is in charge of the aviation unit. "Another reason was that it was a way to cut down on the number of complaints about noise. We are often out in the early morning, so it's a way of explaining to people where we have been and what we were doing. Our tweets may also trigger a memory of something suspicious and that information may help us. It's something we'd like to see more of - the more information we get the better."

Helicops has tweeted over 2,300 times since it started last year, recording every time the helicopter is used. As mobile phones are banned in the helicopter, the crews tweet about their jobs after returning to base.

For the team, one of the most rewarding aspects of using Twitter is feedback and support from the public. "We get people messaging us quite a lot, which we reply to. It's a way for us to talk to the public and explain things about the aircraft or talk about other things," added Inspector Smart. "We get a lot of messages of support and thanking us if we've helped in an area where a follower lives. That's great for the team as we realize we're making a difference."

SOURCE: www.bbc.co.uk

Authors Needed for APSA's Air Beat Magazine

The official journal of the APSA, Air Beat magazine, is written by and for the membership. We are seeking authors who want to share their expertise on topics, such as the ones planned for 2012: air-to-ground threats (laser strikes, weapons fire, chemical/biological threats); aircraft completions and modifications; securing the 2012 Olympics; technology; maintenance; and aircrew survival training and equipment. If you are interested in writing about any of these topics or have an idea you'd like to share, please contact airbeat@PublicSafetyAviation.org or call Lisa at 727-343-5600.

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LAPD Air Support Store Benefits Operations

Due to overwhelming demand for Los Angeles (CA) Police Department Air Support Division (LAPD ASD) memorabilia, the agency launched an online store last month, www.LAPDairsupport.com. All proceeds from merchandise sold on .the website will go directly into the Air Support's Angel Foundation account, which is a certified 501(c)(3) organization.

LAPD ASD is the largest municipal airborne law enforcement organization in the United States and aircrews assist with thousands of arrests, pursuits and crimes in progress. The division began with one helicopter in 1956. Today, ASD's flight time exceeds 18,000 hours annually. Many suspects would have eluded capture without the assistance of the helicopter.

The Angel Foundation helps provide continuing education to LAPD ASD helicopter pilots and tactical flight officers as well as purchases supplies and equipment that are not funded by the city.

SOURCE: www.rotorpad.com

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Miami-Dade Completes Fleet Upgrade With New A-Star

Miami-Dade (FL) Police Department (MDPD) Special Patrol Bureau Aviation Unit recently took delivery of an AS350 B3 helicopter, which completes an upgrade program to replace the MDPD's fleet of aging patrol helicopters. This is the fourth AS350 B3, and it will join the department's fleet of rotary and fixed-wing aircraft.

“The AS350 B3 is a safer, more stable platform that has allowed us to incorporate more mission-based equipment and a tactical flight officer without sacrificing performance,” explained Sergeant Tom Turpin, MDPD Aviation Unit. “This makes us more efficient, more productive and, quite simply, allows us to catch more bad guys.”

The MDPD AS350 B3's are equipped with thermal imagers, searchlights, moving map systems, video downlink systems and platforms for tactical team transport and deployment. American Eurocopter delivered each helicopter with night vision goggle (NVG) compatible cockpits and provided NVG training for all MDPD pilots.

“The AS350 B3 has, without question, enhanced what we do and brought next generation law enforcement capabilities to our unit,” continued Turpin. “Our new helicopters have certainly increased safety for officers on the road and the residents of Miami-Dade County.”

SOURCE: American Eurocopter

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Agency Opts Out Of UK's National Police Coverage

South Yorkshire Police Authority said last month that it is opting out of the planned National Police Air Service which is due to launch in the United Kingdom in April 2012. Chairman of the South Yorkshire Police Authority, Charles Perryman, said the decision was only made after a long debate. “The helicopter strengthens the force's ability to reduce crime, protect vulnerable people and reduce vehicle accidents, and the value of this cannot be underestimated,” he said. “Over the last few weeks, the Authority has also received messages of strong support for the existing service to continue and at its meeting received a petition from 186 people seeking retention of the helicopter, all of which demonstrates the value members of the public place on the current service.”

Assistant Chief Constable Max Sahota said, “The presentation from the National Police Air Service did not give members reassurance regarding the costs of the proposed national model or the quality of cover for the South Yorkshire area. The conclusion, by a significant majority, was not to support the proposal and for South Yorkshire to pursue its own service.”

The United Kingdom's National Police Air Service is being formed to save an estimated $23 million a year. British Transport Police, which is the country's only nationwide police force, will administer aviation services starting in 2013. Currently, there are 33 police helicopters based in 30 locations belonging to individual county forces. The aim is to reduce that to 23 aircraft from 20 bases, each serving a 20-minute flying range. If one region's machine is already busy, the next nearest available one will be sent.

SOURCE: www.dinningtontoday.co.uk

Nominations Open For APSA Board Positions

Be a part of APSA's Board of Directors. The nomination period for APSA elected offices to serve for the term of July 2012 through July 2014 will be open from Nov. 1, 2011, to Dec. 15, 2011. The following offices will be open for nomination: Vice President, Secretary, Eastern Region Director, Northeast Region Director, and Western Region Director. Region directors shall be elected by members residing in that region, and the director must reside in the region he or she is elected to represent.

Nominations must be submitted by regular mail, facsimile or e-mail and must be addressed to the APSA Secretary. Please ensure nominations indicate the name of nominee, the position for which the person is being nominated, and the person making the nomination. Both the person being nominated and the person making the nomination must be current members and in good standing in the APSA.

Nominations must be received or postmarked on or before Dec. 15, 2011. The ballots will be distributed by mail on or about May 1, 2012 to members. The ballots will be counted during the 42nd Annual Conference & Exposition in Reno, NV, with the results announced at the General Membership Meeting on July 14, 2012.

Send your nominations to: Airborne Public Safety Association, Attn: Secretary Gregg Weitzman, 50 Carroll Creek Way, Suite 260, Frederick, MD 21701, or via email to secretary@PublicSafetyAviation.org, or via fax to (301) 631-2466.

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