Specialized Units

The Team operates three Airbus AS350B3 helicopters with the designated call signs of “County Air” 1, 2 and 3. The helicopters are equipped with:

• An array of multifrequency radios—Enable the crew to communicate simultaneously with air traffic control and nearby flying aircrafts, departmental ground units, neighboring law enforcement agencies, joint multijurisdictional task forces and federal agencies.
• Mission equipment
• An infrared thermal imager
• A 30-million candlepower searchlight
• A color video camera
• A moving street map
• A flight terrain and obstacle avoidance system
• Electronically stabilized binoculars
• A LOJACK stolen auto signal receiver
• Microwave video downlink system
• Weather radar

In 2020 the Aviation Team flew nearly 2,000 flight hours and responded to more than 4,000 calls and activities in support of patrol, specialized units, neighboring jurisdictions, and federal agencies. The total calls for service included more than 2,200 searches and resulted in 403 arrest assists, the recovery of 11 LOJACK equipped stolen vehicles and the location of 83 critical missing subjects, who returned home or to a medical facility.

The Aviation Team consists of the:

• Supervisor
• Sergeant and trained pilot
• Seven full-time officers and pilots and
• Three Tactical Flight Officers (TFOs)

The pilots serve a dual role as pilot and TFO and must be proficient in the TFO skill set. Pilots and TFOs are selected from within the ranks of BCoPD.

REQUIREMENTS

Pilots and TFOs must complete a selection process including:

• A resume review
• An inflight practical evaluation
• A panel interview
• An underwater egress training

To be eligible to apply for the officer and pilot position, applicants must possess:

• An FAA commercial pilot license
• An FAA medical certificate (Second Class)
• A minimum of 1,000 turbine helicopter flight hours as a pilot in command

To be eligible for selection as a TFO, applicants must have a minimum of five years of commendable departmental experience. TFOs come from varied backgrounds within the department in the fields of patrol, traffic and criminal investigation.

The Patrol and Narcotics Team responds to 6,000 service calls a year, which include deployment to over 1,000 criminal incidents and 300 searches of controlled dangerous substances.

TRAINING

Patrol canines go through 16 weeks of basic patrol training before they are certified, which includes:

• Basic obedience
• Obstacle course
• Box searches
• Trailing
• Area searches
• Building searches
• Aggression control

After completing the initial certification, each patrol K9 must re-certify annually while performing 16 hours of maintenance training each month. The patrol canine then receives eight additional weeks of training in the detection of controlled dangerous substances, which includes which includes building, vehicle and area/field searches, as well as scent discrimination. The skill of detection is also tested annually in order to keep the patrol canine certified.

The Explosive Detection Team responds to 30 searches each year for criminal incidents and for the safety of public venues, which includes trains, aircrafts and ships.

TRAINING

The explosive detection canine must complete eight weeks of training, which includes building, vehicle and area/field searches, as well as scent discrimination. Each explosive detection canine must test with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives each year and perform 16 hours of maintenance training each month.

On average, the K9 Unit responds to 30 Search and Rescues Team events each year for critically missing and endangered persons.

TRAINING

The bloodhounds are given 10 weeks of training, which includes scent discrimination/article collection and trailing. The bloodhounds certify annually through the National Police Bloodhound Association and perform 16 hours of maintenance training each month.