Nature of Incident: Aviation Unit Supports Law Enforcement Efforts with Patrol Flights
Location: Ventura County
Narrative:
The Ventura County Aviation Unit regularly supports law enforcement with patrol flights throughout Ventura County. During a normal patrol flight, the helicopter responds to calls for service, conducts searches, and provides information to our patrol units. When not assigned to a call, the helicopter patrols our shopping centers, schools, places of worship, beaches, and residential communities. While on patrol, the helicopter routinely flies through every city within the county as well as the vast unincorporated areas. If the crew observes suspicious or criminal activity, they can coordinate with ground units for law enforcement action.
The Ventura County Aviation Unit operates a wide range of aircraft to fulfill its law enforcement, rescue, medical, and aerial firefighting missions. The centerpiece of its law enforcement capabilities rests with Copter 3, a 1980 Bell 206 Long Ranger. Copter 3 is a unique helicopter in our fleet, equipped with multi-band communications, search lighting, and sensor suite tailored to identify, track, and assist ground units in apprehending individuals engaged in criminal activity. This ability to provide an overhead perspective in urban areas and between terrain obstacles is critical when searching for suspects or persons in need of assistance in an area as geographically diverse as Ventura County.
While on patrol, Copter 3 generally flies at 2000 feet to give the pilot and crew chief a large viewing area to monitor the activities below. This altitude also reduces the noise impact to the residents below. If you see Copter 3 in your neighborhood or over your business, it is just our patrol unit in the sky. While on patrol, both the pilot and the crew chief can see many activities in detail and areas not visible from the ground.
Copter 3 has the capability to search via its day camera and thermal imaging sensor package which can often be the critical element in locating a suspect that would otherwise be invisible from the ground. In the last month, Copter 3 has assisted patrol by locating numerous suspects that were ultimately arrested for their crimes.
Even when staged at the Ventura County Aviation Unit hangar at the Camarillo Airport, Copter 3 and its highly trained crew can respond anywhere within Ventura County in a few short minutes of receiving a dispatch notification. When in flight, Copter 3 proactively assists deputies and partner agency officers on the ground at a moment's notice.
The Ventura County Aviation Unit is run in partnership between the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and the Ventura County Fire Department. Together the agencies provide staffing to the unit and respond to a variety of missions to include firefighting, search and rescue, medical calls, and law enforcement. The unit is staffed 365 days a year with highly trained Firefighters and Deputy Sheriffs. The Aviation Unit patrols and responds to all cites and areas of Ventura County regardless of which municipal police or fire department has primary jurisdiction.
Media Follow-Up Contact: Crew Chief Lee Chapman or Crew Chief John Burt 805-388-4212
Prepared by: Captain Brian Slominski
Approved by: Commander Jeff Miller
