The King County Sheriff’s Air Support Unit is the only full-time rotary-wing law enforcement aviation unit in Washington State. Three other counties (Chelan, Thurston, Snohomish and Spokane) each operate one helicopter on a limited, part-time basis, primarily for wilderness Search & Rescue and wilderness firefighting support.
The Air Support Unit operates six days per week. We operate two OH-58 “Kiowa” helicopters, one UH-1H “Huey” helicopter that we received from the Federal 1208 (surplus) program and one Bell 407 received from regional UASI funds. Our total annual flight time averages about 1200 hours a year.
 Primary Duties
- Command & Control
- Homeland Security
- Rapid Damage Assessment in a terrorist attack or natural disaster
- Patrol Support
- Vehicle Pursuits
- Search & Rescue (urban and wilderness)
- Interagency Support
- Special Teams Deployment
- Surveillance for intelligence and investigative functions
- Crowd control and incident management over flights
In addition, we are used under contract by the Coast Guard and WA State Department of Ecology to support responses to oil spills.  Capabilities
- Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR)
- 30-million candlepower “Night Sun” searchlights
- Real-Time microwave video downlink of ongoing events to commanders and other decision-makers on the ground
- Specialized radio tracking equipment to locate bank robbery suspects (Pro Net) and stolen vehicles (LoJack)
- Search & Rescue
- Locating lost/missing people: urban and wilderness
- Inserting rescuers into remote locations
- Extracting victims from remote locations
- Rapid Deployment of Special Teams (SWAT, Bomb Squad, Marine Unit, etc.)
- Platform for aerial photography and digital video of large outdoor locations (e.g., crime scenes and disaster damage, etc.)
- Aerial communications platform equipped to communicate with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and fire fighting agencies on their frequencies.
Air Support Services and Missions
Force Multiplier
A law enforcement helicopter is often referred to as a “force multiplier.” It has become an indispensable part of the Sheriff’s Office. Nationwide studies have shown that helicopter/car teams have a felony arrest rate as high as six times that of car teams alone. A helicopter has been shown to “back up” as many as twenty-six ground vehicles within its geographic area of responsibility. The helicopter’s aerial advantage gives it about 15 times the surveillance capability of a ground unit. This vantage point, plus the speed in which a helicopter can get a trained observer over a crime scene, provides containment that often essentially assures an arrest. It does so efficiently, without having to pull other patrol units from their areas of responsibility.  Patrol
Studies show that the constant and persistent presence of a patrolling helicopter suppresses crime. Burglaries are reduced by up to 30%, while street crimes such as rape, robbery, auto theft, etc., can be cut in half by the presence of a helicopter. A helicopter’s vantage point permits observation of activities not seen by ground officers, such as on rooftops and in fenced yards. At normal patrol speeds and altitudes, a helicopter can keep an object in view on the ground ten times longer than a ground officer moving at normal street patrol speeds. Our helicopters are equipped with tracking equipment capable of locating bank robbers and stolen vehicles. We have color and forward looking infrared (FLIR) cameras and 30 million-candle power spotlights that enable us to find suspects at night.
Interagency Support
In addition to its many law enforcement applications, the helicopter may be required to assist other agencies in diversified missions. We have assisted the Secret Service, FBI, DEA, Customs and local law enforcement with a wide variety of surveillances and other missions. In many jurisdictions, law enforcement helicopters are often used to transport local and government officials and visiting dignitaries, providing a significant and economical improvement in security. Search and Rescue
The helicopter’s excellent visibility and the ability to hover make it a very effective Search & Rescue (SAR) vehicle. We have assisted the SAR community throughout Washington and Oregon. Unhampered by terrain, a helicopter can quickly bypass ground obstacles, saving valuable time. It can search large areas quickly, allowing ground searchers to concentrate their efforts in other search areas. It can land in remote areas to insert rescuers and to evacuate victims. The time saved could easily mean the difference between life and death. With our powerful searchlights, thermal imaging equipment and night vision capabilities.
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