September 2005

Airborne Law Enforcement Association, Inc.

ALEA  E-Newsletter

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A Note from the President

Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Airborne Law Enforcement Association’s monthly E-Newsletter. During the July 2005 Board of Director’s Meeting, a motion was adopted to produce a monthly newsletter, distributed by email, as an additional benefit to our membership. While every effort is made to keep the items that appear in the Newswatch section of Air Beat as fresh as possible, we realize that some of the items are 6-8 weeks old by the time you read them. In order to supply our members with more up to date happenings in airborne law enforcement and related industries, we offer this newsletter. It is not intended as a replacement for Newswatch, but rather to supplement and compliment it.

The information contained herein is compiled by our Webmaster, and, for the time being, edited by me. Please direct all comments regarding this newsletter to either of us. I would like to thank Todd, Jennifer Thornton, and the advertisers for making this idea a reality. It is another example of your Association working for you, in accordance with our Mission Statement, “To support, promote and advance the safe and effective utilization of aircraft by law enforcement agencies…”

This E-newsletter will be distributed each month on Friday of the first full week of that month. We hope you enjoy this new membership feature and look forward to your comments.

Dan Schwarzbach, ALEA President

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ALEA Accreditation Standards Released

Well, it took a lot longer than anyone originally thought, but the Airborne Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (ALEAC) has reached a major milestone. About three years ago we started the process of creating standards for the airborne law enforcement profession. And at the July ALEA Board meeting in Reno, the ALEA Board of Directors formally accepted them. ALEA officially recognizes these standards as the industry standards for the airborne law enforcement profession.

ALEAC and ALEA are two separate entities, and neither is a regulatory body. Therefore, the standards you’ll find here are voluntary, but we strongly encourage airborne law enforcement operators to comply with them whenever possible or applicable. Great effort went into making them as realistic and achievable as possible. Our primary reason for creating them was to enable airborne law enforcement units to operate as safely and effectively as possible. We think this is a huge step in that direction.

ALEA Members may download a copy of the standards from the ALEA website.

As you read through the standards, you’ll find explanations for each of them. If you have any questions or comments, or if you think you have a better idea, we want to hear from you. The nine ALEAC Commissioners who created these standards were selected because of their experience, commitment and diverse backgrounds in the airborne law enforcement industry. But that doesn’t mean we got everything right. This is a living document. The ALEAC Board of Directors will continue to meet to discuss new issues and new or revised standards.

I’d like to thank everyone who participated in the process of creating this document – especially the ALEAC Board of Directors and ALEA members who spent countless hours working on it.

If you’d like to contact me personally, please don’t hesitate to do so at kevinpmeans@cox.net

Kevin P. Means
President, Airborne Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission

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Sacramento Deputy Makes Remarkable Recovery

As the investigation continues into the July 13th double-fatal accident of a Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department (CA) helicopter, the only surviving crew member is making a remarkable recovery. Deputy Eric Henrikson, 28, was seated in the rear seat of the American Eurocopter EC120 when it crashed near the Nimbus Dam and rolled several times down a steep hillside. Deputy Henrickson was ejected from the aircraft.  He was flown by medivac helicopter to Mercy San Juan Medical Center in Carmichael, where he was comatose on life support for more than a month.

Henrickson woke up on August 20th, his father’s birthday, and has shown no signs of permanent brain damage. He is communicating with family members and is able to actually stand up for brief periods of time. His full recovery is expected to take several months.

The pilot and tactical flight officer were killed in the crash. The pilot, Deputy Kievernagel, 36, had been with the SCSD for 19-years. The tactical flight officer, Deputy Blount, 29, had been a SCSD deputy for 7-years. Joe and Kevin were members of the Airborne Law Enforcement Association.

Preliminary indications are that a fuel diaphragm in the Turbomeca Arrius 2F engine was installed backwards at the factory. The investigation continues.

Source:  KXTV
Photo:  Sacramento County Sheriff

Thank You ALEA For All Your Support

This note is to express my appreciation and admiration for the members of the ALEA and their support following our recent crash and the loss of our two brothers in arms. It would be impossible to thank everyone and not leave anyone out. Let me start by saying that the honoring of Joe and Kevin at the ALEA Awards Banquet was first class.

The support demonstrated by the board and the individual members was absolutely incredible. I couldn’t buy a drink or a meal in Reno and that was such a great expression of camaraderie shown not only to me, but to several members of our unit. The flowers, cards and email postings were valuable to us and showed the members of our unit that we weren’t alone during very trying times.

I know I can never express my thanks enough, but please accept this humble attempt.

Thank You!

Sergeant Greg Maples
Sacramento Sheriff Air Support

Photo:  Glenn Grossman

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ALEA Members Play Vital Role In Katrina Rescue Effort

The US Coast Guard has been in the forefront of the rescue operations ongoing in the gulf coast states. They currently have fifteen HH-60 Jayhawks and twenty-one HH-65 Dolphins. Coast Guard forces based out of Mobile have rescued more than 4,800 people. 25 active duty Coast Guard crew members are ALEA members.

Airborne law enforcement aircraft and crews from as far away as Los Angeles and Connecticut have been deployed to the area.

Bell Helicopter has dispatched six helicopters to the Gulf area. These include one Bell 430 and one NVG equipped Bell 407 on station in Lafayette, LA, flying medical aid missions for FEMA. The company also reports sending one 206L4 LongRanger and three additional Bell 407s.

Sources:  US Coast Guard and Rotorhub

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Canadian Region’s First Safety Seminar Was A Big Success

ALEA’s Canadian Region was formed in July 2004 and held its first regional safety seminar last month. The two-day educational event drew approximately 80 Canadian members, which is almost half of the total ALEA membership in that country.

"I was extremely pleased by the membership participation for this inaugural event. Attendance exceeded all expectations as well as that of some of the more established regions", said ALEA President Dan Schwarzbach.

In addition to a packed educational agenda, members were treated to an evening hospitality suite, a full buffet breakfast and lunch, as wells as dinner and drinks at a downtown pub. All of this generosity was provided by Affiliate Member sponsorships by ACROHELIPRO, Bell Helicopter, FLIR Systems, Keystone Helicopters, Northern Airborne Technology, Pilatus Aircraft, Ryan International, and Turbomeca Canada.

ALEA Executive Director Sherry Hadley was pleased by the Affiliate Member participation. "The Affiliate support for this first Canadian regional seminar was wonderful. We had 18 exhibitors displaying their products and services to the attendees. I believe this number will certainly increase next year, as the law enforcement member turnout for this first inaugural event was excellent."

ALEA Canadian Region Director Sergeant Mike ter Kuile of the Calgary Police Air Services Unit praised the team effort that resulted in this year’s achievement. "Our first regional safety seminar was a great success due to the collective input of Pamela Darragh and her team at the Radisson Hotel, the staff at Ceili's Irish Pub, the generosity of the Calgary Police Association, the team effort of the members of the Air Services Unit and the Ceremonial Unit of the Calgary Police Service coupled with the enthusiastic and expert support of Sherry Hadley and Jennifer Thornton of the ALEA Corporate Office."

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The 7th Annual “Cops for Kids Fly-In” will be held on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 at 10AM at the San Bernardino International Airport (CA). The event will be hosted by the Riverside Police Department, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department. Law enforcement aircrews from around California will gather to bring a spark of joy to the lives of kids in the cancer ward at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital.

To get involved, take up a collection of new toys from your unit, department, and/or community. Unit hats and t-shirts are always appreciated. Bring the toys to the airport on September 20th. The toys delivered to the kids in the hospital, and your efforts will be rewarded with hugs and smiles. Then, the crews will return to the airport for lunch and professional development.

For more information or to RSVP call or email:

• Don Miskulin, Riverside P.D.
  (951)351-6118
  dmiskulin@riversideca.gov
• Jeff Werblun, Sacramento S.D.
  (916)875-7046
  jwerblun@sacsheriff.com
• Kurt Franklin, Riverside S.D.
  (909)925-9591
  Kfrankli@RC-lawnet.org

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Cop Promises Little Boy “I’m Coming Back, Don’t Worry”

A leisurely aerial tour of the coastal mountains east of Vancouver, British Columbia became terrifying for two men and an 11-year-old boy. Their Enstrom helicopter made an emergency landing while flying over Widgeon Lake, which is nestled within the rugged Pitt Mountain Range. The pilot made an approach and touchdown on the water’s surface and the helicopter immediately rolled inverted and began sinking to the bottom of the lake. All three occupants were able to free themselves from the cabin.  Once on the surface, they swam to the shoreline and began assessing their options.

Initially, they attempted to hike out of the area on foot, but abandoned that plan due to the steep terrain and thick forest surrounding the lake, not to mention the fact that the man and his sons were wearing shorts and sandals. They arranged several large bounders and fashioned a large “S.O.S.” sign near the shoreline. If help didn’t arrive by the next day, they would attempt a second hike - a good 8-hour trek to the nearest logging road.  But for now, they were stranded and wet with no survival gear of any kind.

Several hours later, Special Constable Dean Russell, an ALEA member, of the Abbotsford Police Department was flying near the area in his Robinson R44. He saw the trio waving at him and noticed the “S.O.S.” signal. Russell climbed high enough to contact air traffic controllers and advise them of his position and situation. Then, he landed nearby, contacted the survivors and learned of their breathtaking experience.

The lake is not accessible by road, so the decision was made to fly the group to Pitt Meadows Airport. Constable Russell’s own son was onboard the flight, and “five’s a crowd” in the R44. The consensus was to leave the father and son behind and return for them on the second flight.

Before leaving, Russell approached the little boy, removed his badge and placed it in the youngster’s hand. He told him, “You hang on to this. You know I’m not going to leave my badge behind. I’m coming back, don’t you worry.” Russell told ALEA that when he finally got the father and son safely back to the airport, the boy was still grasping the badge in his hands.

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Helicopter Deals Sealed in Reno

MD Helicopters announced the order of a new MD 500E by the City of Houston (TX) for law enforcement and homeland security missions. The Glendale Police Department (CA) contracted with MD to purchase a new MD 520N. The new aircraft will be the fifth MD 500 series aircraft purchased by the department and the third MD 520N. The Columbus Police Department (OH) ordered its eighth MD 500E for airborne law enforcement. The new aircraft will replace one of the fleet’s oldest in keeping with the planned fleet replacement program designed to keep operating costs down.

American Eurocopter business included a contract award confirmation from the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection for up to 55 EC120Bs and the startup of deliveries for four; the Phoenix Police Department’s expansion of its AS350B3 fleet with two additional aircraft; the delivery of an initial three AS350B3s to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office (CA); the handover of an initial AS350B2 for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (CA); the delivery of a second AS350B2 to the Suffolk County Police Department (NY); and the delivery of a second EC-120 to the Fresno Police Department (CA).

Sources: MD Helicopters and American Eurocopter

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U.S. Border Patrol Deploys Predator UAV

Starting this month, the United States Border Patrol will deploy a "Predator-B" unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) along the Mexican border. The aircraft was purchased from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for $14.1 million, which includes one year of service and maintenance. The craft, powered by a turboprop engine, has a 30-hour endurance and is equipped with forward looking infrared.

Source: Los Angeles Times
Photo: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems

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Gunfire Downs Bernalillo County Helicopter

A Bernalillo County (NM) Sheriff’s Department helicopter was hit by gun fire on August 6th. Pilot Chris Holland made an emergency landing in the backyard of a residence, stopping just short of a cinder-block wall. Holland was struck in the leg by fragments from the projectile. He was transported to the University of New Mexico Hospital with serious leg injuries, and his full recovery is questionable. Tactical Flight Officer Deputy Ward Pfefferle was struck in the left arm. His injuries were minor.

Holland and Pfefferle were assisting ground units responding to a burglary call in the Paradise Hills area of Albuquerque. They were operating on NVGs at approximately 500 feet AGL when the bullet struck Holland’s left pedal. He initiated an autorotation, and the 1976 Hughes 369HS, callsign “Metro-One”, was all but destroyed on impact.

Several witnesses reported hearing a loud gunshot just prior to the crash. A week later, investigators obtained an arrest warrant for 29-year-old Jason Kerns, a former helicopter A&P mechanic and Marine Corps marksmanship instructor. Kerns, initially interviewed as a witness in the case, reportedly bragged to detectives that it would be no problem for him to "make that shot."

Sources:  KOTA-TV and KOB-TV

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Cigarette Sting May Net Louisville Police A New Helo

A Louisville businessman who was caught selling cigarettes he bought in Kentucky to customers in Chicago to avoid cigarette taxes was ordered by pay $2 million restitution. Louisville police netted $412,000 for their part in the investigation. Police Chief Robert White said he plans to put the money towards the purchase of a new helicopter.

Source: Lexington Herald-Leader

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NYPD To Arm Helos With .50 Cals

The New York City Police Aviation Unit is making plans to arm some of its helicopters with rifles. The weapon chosen is the $9,000 Barrett .50 caliber semi-automatic rifle.

New York City Mayor Bloomberg told WCBS-TV, “We know that we live in a dangerous world, and we will do everything we can to protect this city.”

This program is still in its infancy and these particular weapons have yet to be deployed aboard any NYPD aircraft, as officers are still undergoing training. Initially, the rifles will be mounted in the unit’s Bell 412’s and ultimately in their Augusta A119’s. For some time now, the unit has armed several of its flights with the 5.56mm M4 rifle.

Source:  WCBS-TV
Photo:  Barrett Firearms

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Robinson Completes Testing of Flight Management Systems' Moving Map

Flight Management Systems announced that Robinson Helicopter Company successfully completed flight testing of their Moving Map system integrated with a Mobile Dispatch Terminal. The testing was conducted in cooperation with the Fontana Police Department (CA) and California Aviation Services in an R44 Police helicopter.

The system allows real time communication with dispatch, as well as complete use of the fully functional moving map.  Both programs run simultaneously, using a hardened, remotely mounted, Stealth computer. Addresses can be copied from the MDT and pasted directly into the moving map’s search bar, eliminating spelling errors, and saving time.

The FMS Moving Map system has been flying in Police aviation since 1996 and was FAA certified in the R44 Helicopter, in July 2005. Certification is currently being sought for the fully integrated system.

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LAPD Deploys Cineflex HD Aerial Surveillance Camera System

Cineflex announced that the Air Support Division of the Los Angeles Police Department has deployed its Cineflex V14 HiDEF high-definition aerial imaging system for the unit's airborne law enforcement missions. Cineflex delivers images three times more detailed than standard definition quality.

The Cineflex V14 HiDEF is able to conduct surveillance missions from much higher altitudes and greater standoff distances than previously possible. With its extreme long lens technology and full HD resolution camera containing over two million pixels (1920 x 1080 lines of resolution), the Cineflex V14 HiDEF provides the ability to covertly surveil suspects with an unprecedented level of detail from thousands of feet up. Even at focal lengths greater than 1100mm, the image remains extremely steady and crystal clear.

"The LAPD's Air Support Division is widely recognized as one of the world's most sophisticated airborne law enforcement units and we are pleased to be able to assist with their missions," said John Coyle, president of Cineflex.

Source:  PR Newswire

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New Home For A New Aircraft In Sarasota

Sarasota County (FL) Sheriff Bill Balkwill is already making a new home for his agency’s new Bell 407, which is set to arrive sometime in October. The new $405,000 hangar will house the new helicopter and their existing Beachcraft Baron. A 25-year lease agreement worth $12,000 per year has been made for one acre of land at the Venice Municipal Airport (KVNC). The 407, which will be on a seven year lease agreement, will replace a Bell 206.

Source:  Venice Gondolier Sun

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Air Methods Delivers Third FIREHAWK to L.A. County Fire Department

The aircraft made 70 water drops on two separate fires during its first day in service. The S-70A FIREHAWK(TM) is based on the successful UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter utilized by the U.S. Army. The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 23,000 lbs., can cruise at 155 knots, and is equipped with specialized systems and equipment making it capable of performing a variety of missions including airborne firefighting, swift water and blue water search and rescue, emergency medical transport, fire crew transportation, and internal or external cargo transport.

In the firefighting role, the aircraft is able to precisely deliver 1,000 gallons of water using a belly-mounted tank. The tank is filled through a retractable snorkel operated by the pilot that allows the aircraft to refill from almost any available water source near the fire area to maximize delivery rate. The power provided by the two turboshaft engines gives the aircraft a large margin of safety when operating over fire sites as well as rescue operations and cargo transports.

Air Methods provided the multi-mission interior system and a significant upgrade of the flight instruments, including a glass cockpit and additional navigation and communications systems. The aircraft is outfitted with Air Methods' multi-mode pilot control system which allows the pilot to manage all of the systems for firefighting, rescue hoist, or external cargo missions by switching from one operating mode to another on the control panel. This system maximizes aircraft operational safety by allowing the pilot's hands to be kept on the controls during critical periods.

This aircraft joins two FIREHAWK(TM) aircraft that have been in operation with the L.A. County Fire Department since 2001 performing more than 8,000 missions.

Source:  PR Newswire
Photo:  Glenn Grossman

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POP200 Selling To U.S. Law Enforcement

Several new U.S. law enforcement agencies have installed the POP200 Plug-in Optronic Payload on their aircraft. New customers include the Dale County, Alabama Sheriff’s Office, the Arizona Department of Public Services and the St. Louis County, Missouri Police Department. The POP200 is a modular, lightweight gyro-stabilized day / night observation system manufactured by Israel Aircraft Industries’ Tamam Division (IAI/Tamam). The POP200 can be used for various missions related to law enforcement and homeland security.

The POP200 includes a high performance focal plane array thermal imager (IR), a color CCD TV camera, automatic video tracking and a laser pointer. The sensor slice can be easily replaced in the field within minutes, and the design allows for easy upgrades whenever new slices are introduced.

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NAT Completes Testing Of MagnaStar®

Northern Airborne Technology Ltd. (NAT) is pleased to announce successful testing of the PTA12-100 Digital Airborne Telephone Dialer/Adapter with the MagnaStar® Digital Airborne Telephone System, interfaced thru Teledyne's Cabin Distribution Bus Repeater, Model 2 (CDBR-2). The CDBR-2 is an optional unit used with the MagnaStar C-2000 and C-750 telephone systems. System integration and testing were accomplished by Teledyne Controls’ personnel at their Los Angeles facility.

The PTA12-100 Dialer/Adapter is a compact Dzus mounted telephone interface with a full function Touchtone keypad and LED display. Utilizing the 2 wire POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) interface from the telephone, the PTA12-100 provides complete telecom control and standard DTMF (Dual Tone Multi Frequency) dialing capabilities. Speed dial allows numbers to be stored and recalled from memory. The interface allows the flight crew to access the telephone system through the aircraft’s audio system, maintaining full headset operation. A handset can also be used in parallel with the PTA12 (-000 or -100) to provide satcom system access for the cabin. The PTA12-100 can be used with many of today’s airborne telephone systems including Globalstar, Iridium, Inmarsat and airborne cellular.

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UK Police Land At Local Pub

A Cambridgeshire Constabulary (UK) helicopter paid an unscheduled visit to a local pub when it landed in the beer garden in pursuit of two theft suspects. Police dispatched the aircraft to investigate a report of two men breaking into the pay telephone. The aircrew located the suspects; however, no ground units were available to assist. The suspects left the scene in a motor vehicle followed by the aircraft. When they decided to stop off for a “pint” at the White Horse Pub in Tilbrook, the helicopter made its move. After landing the Aerospatiale AS355F2 in middle of the beer garden, officers entered the pub and arrested the two suspects.

Source: Hunts Post

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For rates and availability, contact:

Jennifer Thornton
ALEA Marketing Manager
Phone (918) 599-0705
Fax (918) 583-2353
E-mail: jthornton@alea.org

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ALEA’s Monthly E-Newsletters are designed to help keep you informed on the very latest information in the airborne law enforcement industry.  Our E-Newsletters are distributed by email, as an additional benefit to our membership. Anyone may join our mailing list.
 

This newsletter is published monthly by the Airborne Law Enforcement Association (ALEA), a public benefit, non-profit California corporation. The ALEA is comprised of air crew and air support personnel in law enforcement and others who support, promote, and advance the safe and effective use of aircraft by law enforcement agencies.

© Copyright 2005 by the Airborne Law Enforcement Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this newsletter in whole or in part without written permission from the Editor is prohibited. Product and corporate names mentioned in this newsletter are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the ALEA..

Airborne Law Enforcement Association, Inc.
411 Aviation Way
Suite 200
Frederick, MD 21701
Phone (301) 631-2406
Fax (301) 631-2466