The Oakland County Sheriff's Aviation Unit started on June 5, 2001, and continues to be an excellent addition to our crime fighting arsenal. Now comprised of two state-of-the-art helicopters, the Aviation Unit was made possible through the privatization of the Oakland County Jail’s food service (saving $1.6 million a year) with no additional costs to the taxpayer. Both aircraft are equipped with highly sophisticated avionics, electronics, and camera equipment. Although one aircraft is functionally parked/stored due to budget reductions, this aircraft remains capable of flying should the need arise.

The Aviation Unit is one of the most technologically advanced and efficient law enforcement tools. In an era when homeland security concerns are paramount to law enforcement and Oakland County residents alike, the Unit is an invaluable asset. In 2020, the Aviation Unit responded to 141 calls for service and clocked 377 flight hours.

The aircraft and their equipment are a “force multiplier” for law enforcement. One helicopter in the air can cover as much territory as 12 officers in patrol cars on the ground, and more rapidly. The primary function continues to be that of support for ground units. The FLIR system(s), Night Sun search light, Broadcast Microwave down link, and the ability to communicate with every law enforcement and fire agency in the county serve as testimony to the tremendous asset the Unit provides. The mapping system is also capable of producing specific parcel data which makes property lines visible thereby making air-to-ground coordination much easier. Due to this equipment, the response time to calls has been reduced considerably.

The Aviation Unit is available to every Oakland County police department 24 hours a day/seven days a week and assists local police agencies with directed patrols on a regular basis. In addition, traffic/crowd control support was provided to local police agencies during the 2020 Dream Cruise where over 1.5 million people were in attendance.

The helicopters are invaluable in assisting in emergency situations, including:

• Searching for suspects wanted for crimes such as rape, robbery, and other felony and misdemeanor crimes.
• Eliminating the need for dangerous police car chases
• Searching for missing children and Alzheimer patient walk-aways
• Conducting building searches

In addition, the helicopters assist the Oakland County Sheriff's Office Marine Division and Dive Rescue Team with search and rescue operations, as well as assisting the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) with tactical operations.

Special equipment on the helicopters include forward-looking infrared units (FLIR) that can detect heat sources in total darkness, and a 30 million-candlepower remote spot light called Night Sun, because of its ability to illuminate a pitch-dark area as if it was high noon on a summer day. Most recently, the Aviation Unit equipped and trained pilots in utilizing Night Vision Goggles (NVG), which not only increases the safety margin but also works hand-in-hand with the Infra-Red systems. Both aircraft are equipped with "open sky" radio systems as well as VHF radios. This allows for communication with virtually every LE, FD, EMS entity operating within Oakland County.

Facts on Oakland County Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit helicopters:

• Make: Airbus Helicopters—Assembled in Mississippi.Model; Astar 350 B2
• Engine: Single turbine, 745 horsepower
• Seating: Six; useful load capacity 4961 pounds
• Maximum Speed: 155 knots, 178 mph
• Maximum Altitude: 19,000 ft.
• Maximum fuel: 143 gallons
• Flight Time: 3.5 hours with full fuel
• Length: 42.5 ft.
• Rotor Diameter: 35 ft.
• Tail Rotor: 6 ft.

Equipped with:

• 30 million-candlepower Night Sun remote spotlight
• Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) Thermal Imaging system camera/recorder
• Computerized street mapping/ tracking/ display
• LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery System
• Global Positioning System with integrated moving map display, lightning strike weather avoidance system and aircraft collision avoidance system
• Color video system and Video downlink system

Audio file of Sheriff Bouchard on the value of the Sheriff's Office's Aviation Unit

The Sheriff's Office Drone Unit is a forward-thinking addition to our law enforcement efforts, leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance our capabilities. With a fleet of more than 85 pilots and 30 drones, this unit plays a crucial role in various operations, including overwatch, search, and rescue missions, and 911 response.

Our drone operators are trained to the utmost federal standards with every operator being a certified Part 107 pilot. The unit maintains stringent training standards, such as the NIST Course, to bring valuable aerial support to ground units when needed. Whether it's actively mapping a crime scene, locating missing persons, or assisting in active 911 calls, our drones offer a unique perspective that helps us make informed decisions and respond effectively.

Collaboration is key to our success. We work closely with other law enforcement agencies, emergency responders, and community partners to ensure seamless coordination and communication. By pooling our resources and expertise, we can maximize the impact of our efforts and better serve the needs of our communities. To date we have trained more than 6 other agencies pilots and regularly coordinate intra-agencies trainings so we all operate smoothly in active scenes.

Transparency in law enforcement drone operations is essential for fostering trust and accountability within the community. By openly communicating the purposes, procedures, and limitations of drone usage, law enforcement agencies can demonstrate their commitment to upholding civil liberties and respecting individual privacy rights. The Sheriff’s Office maintains a transparency dashboard so citizens can have insight into operations and rules followed to ensure that all rights and liberties are respected and upheld.

https://portal.arxcommunity.com/dashboards/community/mi-co-oakland-so

In summary, the Sheriff's Office Drone Unit is an essential tool in our mission to protect and serve. By harnessing the power of technology, we're able to enhance our capabilities, improve our efficiency, and ultimately, keep our communities safe.

The Patrol Services Division has many invaluable assets, including the Sheriff's Mobile Command Center. The vehicle is 37 feet long and 8 feet wide, built on a truck frame with a ninety-gallon diesel engine and a 20-kilowatt Kohler generator.

It is equipped with an observation platform, numerous electronic devices including a six-line cell phone system, three satellite phones, four computers, two printers, a fax machine, a weather station, an electronic street mapping system, high resolution video cameras, monitors and DVRs and an HD antenna for broadcast.

The Mobile Command Center radio system allows County police departments to stay in communication whenever necessary. The vehicle can be used as an emergency station during a natural disaster, when dealing with a barricaded gunman or simply as a central area of communication and oversight at a major community event such as the Woodward Dream Cruise.

The vehicle was purchased for $300,000 using drug forfeiture proceeds; there was virtually no cost to the taxpayers.

The Oakland County Sheriff's Office Reserve Unit is a community-based cadre of uniformed, trained volunteers. They have all attended a college-accredited Reserve Academy which allows them to work in conjunction with full-time Sheriff’s Office personnel. They continually receive updates and training, keeping them current with our ever- changing environment of law enforcement. The Reserves are credited with donating more than 20,000 hours yearly to assist the Sheriff's Office on a variety of details. Qualified citizens attend a Reserve Officers Training Academy, and upon graduation join our officers on patrol and work special events within the county. Events include:

• High school football and basketball games
• Local parades
• Dream Cruise
• 4H County Fair
• Local 4th of July events

The Sheriff's Office is grateful for the volunteer assistance of the Reserves and thanks them for the time they give toward the safety and protection of the citizens of Oakland County.

If you are interested in becoming an Oakland County Sheriff's Reserve Deputy, please email Lieutenant Brian Burwell at burwellb@oakgov.com.

The Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), commanded by Lt. Eric Hix,  is a highly-skilled, highly-trained group of officers selected from personnel throughout the Sheriff's Office. This team responds to critical situations involving barricaded gunmen, high- risk warrant arrests, drug raids and civil disturbances.

Specialized training and sophisticated equipment, including the armored personnel carrier (BEAR), provide the necessary tools to help resolve these dangerous missions quickly and safely. The Sheriff's Office is now integrated with South Oakland SWAT, resulting in more effective service to other parts of the county.