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1973 marked the beginning of the Lane County Sheriff's Office providing law enforcement and emergency management aerial support services. Helicopter operations are required for the variety of missions we encounter.
Our expansive 4,620 square mile jurisdiction provides geographic diversity that spans 10,000' elevations from the summit of the Cascade Mountains, extensive forestlands, the Willamette Valley, and the 5,000' Coast Range to the Pacific Ocean. At present, the Sheriff's Office operates a 1987 McDonnell-Douglas MD500E light utility helicopter. This machine is well suited for the variety of missions the unit undertakes.
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Helicopters are expensive to operate. However, with the combined efforts of SAR, volunteers, and Sheriff's Office staff, the program has continued despite limited County General funding. Various donations, contracting and federal reimbursement initiatives have contributed to keeping the program alive.
The aviation program is staffed as an "ad-hoc" support team, available on an as needed basis. Ongoing training allows the team to provide critical mission support in:
- Search & Rescue
- Law Enforcement
- Emergency Management
On-board equipment, managed by Tactical Flight Officers, provides significant communications capabilities for command and control functions at major events. Aerial observation is further enhanced by the use of a 30-million candlepower "Nightsun" spotlight, coordinated with infrared imaging technology, that enhances the observer's night search capability.
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