Mission Statement: The Jefferson County Sheriff's
Office and Beaumont Police Department Aviation Unit is a cooperative
effort. The mission is designed to achieve the law enforcement
goals of the entire county as they relate to officer safety,
enhanced drug enforcement, extraditions, and community awareness.
This is accomplished by supporting and assisting all patrol
units and other law enforcement agencies in Jefferson County
for the purpose of enhancing patrol efforts, counter-drug
surveillance, performing airborne extraditions, and providing
emergency airborne response to crisis situations as well as
attend community awareness events.
Three helicopters (OH-58s) operated by the Jefferson County
Sheriff's Office and the Beaumont Police Department have proven
extremely useful in the fight against crime as well as other
areas. Assisting in Narcotics enforcement and supporting the
Patrol units is the primary mission of the helicopter unit.
This assistance from the helicopter unit, which is equipped
with a flir thermal imaging camera and night sun light enables
fewer ground based officers at crimes scenes and perimeters.
Having the helicopter in the air gives a sense of security
to the officers and the community. The vehicle pursuit management
is increased, by having the air unit to observe and track
the pursuit. This ability reduces associated liabilities to
the officers, community, and the suspect. The aircrew is made
of one command pilot and co-pilot or tactical flight officer
(observer). The flight crew observes areas on the ground and
monitors dispatch frequencies, responding to calls for service
and personal observations based on their experience as Peace
officers. In effect, the air unit can be thought of as a patrol
car in flight. The unit is placed on 24- hour call up status. |