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| Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Air Support Division | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Air Support Division |
| Parent agency | Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Station | Los Angeles |
| Aircraft | Helicopters, Fixed-wing aircraft, Unmanned aerial vehicles |
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Air Support Division The Air Support Division provides aerial law enforcement, search and rescue, surveillance, and rapid response across Los Angeles County, supporting agencies such as the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, California Highway Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Customs and Border Protection. Established to augment ground units during incidents like the 1992 Los Angeles riots and ongoing events such as Wildfire seasons in California and mass gatherings at Staples Center and Dodger Stadium, the division operates amid complex legal frameworks including the Fourth Amendment and policies influenced by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
The division traces roots to post‑World War II aviation expansion influenced by innovations from Sikorsky, Bell Helicopter, and the United States Air Force. Early cooperative efforts with the Los Angeles County Sheriff office reflected practices from the Los Angeles Police Department Air Support Division and models used by the New York Police Department Aviation Unit and the Helicopter Unit of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Key milestones included procurement decisions during the administrations of Dianne Feinstein and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca and operational shifts following events like the Northridge earthquake and the 2000 Democratic National Convention.
The division is structured into detachments modeled after aviation units such as Los Angeles County Fire Department Air Operations, the United States Coast Guard Air Stations, and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) air programs. Command oversight involves officials who liaise with the Sheriff of Los Angeles County, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and federal partners including FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security. Specialized teams mirror units in the New York Police Department Aviation Unit and include search and rescue elements comparable to Los Angeles County Search and Rescue and coordination with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health during public health emergencies.
The fleet historically incorporated helicopters from manufacturers such as Bell Helicopter Textron, Airbus Helicopters, and fixed-wing platforms from Cessna and Beechcraft, alongside unmanned systems similar to those used by Federal Aviation Administration‑regulated operators. Avionics and sensor suites include infrared cameras made by companies like FLIR Systems and mapping technologies akin to systems used by NASA and US Geological Survey. Maintenance and procurement follow procurement practices referenced in contracts with vendors such as Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation and regulatory oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Operational missions encompass aerial patrols over jurisdictions including Compton, California, Inglewood, and Antelope Valley, search and rescue in areas like the Santa Monica Mountains and San Gabriel Mountains, and wildfire support during incidents such as the Woolsey Fire and Station Fire. The division supports major event security at venues including Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Hollywood Bowl, and Los Angeles International Airport, coordinating with agencies like Transportation Security Administration and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Los Angeles County). Counter‑narcotics and fugitive searches have involved cooperation with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Marshals Service.
Pilots and crew undergo training comparable to programs at the United States Army Aviation School, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, and civil programs at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University. Safety protocols reference standards from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, and recurrent training includes night‑vision goggle operations used by units like the Los Angeles Police Department Air Support Division. Interagency exercises are conducted with partners such as California Highway Patrol, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and FEMA to rehearse responses to scenarios from mass casualty incidents to earthquake preparedness.
The division has been scrutinized in incidents comparable to controversies involving other aviation units such as debates over aerial surveillance raised by American Civil Liberties Union litigation and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. High‑profile investigations have intersected with oversight from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and inquiries resembling those into the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department at large. Safety investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board following crashes and mechanical failures have prompted reviews akin to those after incidents involving agencies like the New York Police Department Aviation Unit.
Community outreach includes public education initiatives similar to programs run by the Los Angeles Public Library, volunteer coordination with groups like CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), and demonstrations at events hosted by institutions such as Los Angeles City Hall, University of Southern California, and California State University, Los Angeles. Youth engagement mirrors partnerships utilized by the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the USA to promote aviation careers and safety awareness. Collaborative efforts with environmental groups like the Sierra Club and cultural institutions such as the Autry Museum of the American West address concerns about noise, wildlife, and public access.
Category:Law enforcement aviation in the United States Category:Los Angeles County