cannabisnews.com: Sheriff's Department Heightens County Air Patrols!





Sheriff's Department Heightens County Air Patrols!
Posted by FoM on July 03, 1999 at 14:47:31 PT
By Terence Chea
Source: Fresno Bee
Criminals, beware: That plane up there may be the law. Fresno Sheriff's volunteers are taking to the skies over Fresno County to beef up air patrols under a program announced Friday by Sheriff Richard Pierce.
Civilian pilots from the Sheriff's Aero Squadron, who volunteer their time and fly their own planes, will team with sheriff's reserve deputies as part of the new EAGLE Patrol Flights. EAGLE stands for Enhanced Air to Ground Law Enforcement. "This is the latest tool for public safety in Fresno County," Pierce said at a news conference at Chandler Municipal Airport. "The fixed-wing planes add more flight time in the air at a minimal cost." The flights will be the county's first regularly scheduled fixed-wing air patrols and involve a fleet of 30 airplanes. The added air power will make it easier for the Sheriff's Department to patrol the county's 6,006 square miles of farming towns, agricultural land and mountains. The flights will help spot agricultural thieves, fleeing criminals, drunken drivers and marijuana farms, officials said. The Sheriff's Aero Squadron, which started in 1938, is composed of civilian pilots and includes lawyers, farmers and businessmen. Previously, the squadron has assisted the Sheriff's Department with search-and-rescue and surveillance missions. Under the new program, the Aero Squadron will work closely with volunteer deputies from the Uniform Field Reserve Unit. The Sheriff's Department pays only for the airplane fuel, which costs about $20 an hour. The new patrol flights will supplement the air patrol work of the department's two helicopters, which now patrol about six hours a day, officials said. "It adds a layer to the air," said Pierce, who expects the program to add about 250 flight hours a year, mostly on weekends. The Aero Squadron will patrol county parks, rivers and lakes over the Fourth of July holiday. Ron Sawl, commander of the Sheriff's Aero Squadron, said the planes will serve as "patrol cars with wings." He said the planes can help officers survey a crime scene, pursue fleeing suspects and relay intelligence without jeopardizing the safety of the public. Lt. Bob McDonald, who coordinates the Sheriff's Aero Squadron, said at the news conference, "We want criminals to know if they see a plane, it could be the sheriff."Published July 3, 1999Fresno Bee
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Comment #2 posted by ZEN on August 14, 2001 at 00:02:20 PT
 FOR YOU WHOS ON YOUR PLANE WATCHING THE WORLD
WHY DO YOU NOT SEEM TO GET THE PICTURE HERE. DRUGS SHOULD BE LEGALIZED. ANYONE WITH A HALF A BRAIN CAN SEE THIS. JUST LEAVE USERS ALONE UNLESS THEY'RE CONTRIBUTING TO MINORS , THEN U GO GET THEM. IF ITS DRUG USE FOR THEM OR THER FRIENDS , YOIU NEED TO BACK THE HELL UP OFF THEM. IF IT WAS LEGAL, THE STATE COULD SELL & MAKE MONEY , & WIPE OUT THE DRUG DEALERS. ALSO CLEAR OUT THE PRISONS & LOWER TAXES. ALL THIS GOODNESS BY ALLOWING ADULTS MAKE THE DECISION TO DO DRUGS , JUST LIKE THE RIGHT TO SMOKE CIG'S OR DRINK A BEER. FREEDOM WILL STOP THE WAR YOUR NEVER GOING TO WIN. THATS MY OPINION, & I'M STICKIN TO IT !! COME ON STOP BATTLING . IT HASN'T WORKED FOR A REASON , IT WONT EBER WORK . LEGALIZE DRUG USE WITH LAWS LIKE DRINKING . NO MINORS OR DRIVING ECT. OR THEN THE LAW COMES INTO IT, THATNK YOU .  Z
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Comment #1 posted by Birdman on July 04, 1999 at 07:15:44 PT
Give them the finger.
I give every plane that flies over my house the finger. I hope they are looking. Damn NAZIS.
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