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Onondaga County Sheriff’s Aviation Unit The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit plays an intricate role in providing support services throughout Onondaga County for Federal, State and local police agencies, fire and Emergency Medical Services. In addition to its unique ability to assist ground based law enforcement efforts, the Bell 407 helicopter also has the ability to be utilized to assist with fire suppression and when staffed with volunteer paramedics can seize critical moments needed to save lives. 2008 • Air 1 flew a total of 611.5 hours. • Responded to 1,643 calls for service. • Conducted 462 Homeland Security checks • Assisted in 34 arrest • Completed 22 medivac missions • Staffed by paramedics for 1425.5 hours 2008 Snap Shot 1-5-08 – Route 174 and Route 20 motor vehicle accident with entrapment. Air lifted 5 year old female to University Hospital 2-23-08 – Searched portion of Oneida Lake for snowmobile reported to have fallen through the ice. Air 1 located the snowmobile, and the operator was later located on shore. 3-10-08 – Responded to Town of VanBuren to assist with a burglary in progress. Air 1 located the suspect and directed ground units to his location where he was apprehended. 4-11-08 – Assisted Syracuse Police with a shooting investigation. Air -1 located the suspect’s vehicle and directed ground units to the suspect who was ultimately taken into custody. 4-16-08 – Air 1 assisted Fire Service with outdoor fire on Ranson Road. Bambi bucket used to suppress fire that ground units could not reach. 4-18-08 – Air 1 located missing 4 year old in the Town of Onondaga. 5-9-08 – Air -1 responded to Town of Elbridge for a severe car crash and transported 53 year old man to University hospital 6-13-08 – Participated in “Operation Eagle Eye” assisting multiple police agencies targeting aggressive drivers. 6-15-08 - Assisted East Syracuse and Dewitt Police with train derailment with a hazmat situation. 7-16-08 – Responded to Henry Clay Boulevard for a burglary in progress. Air -1’s crew located and observed three suspects flee from a residence. Air 1 directed ground units to the suspect’s location and they were taken into custody. 10-3-08 – Assist State Police locate a person lost in swamp area. Within 13 minutes, Air-1 located person and directed ground units to him. 12-16-08 – Assisted Syracuse Police with surveillance and traffic stop of a high risk vehicle transporting drugs to Syracuse area. Air 1 located vehicle and directed ground units, suspects apprehended. Missions Routine patrols Traffic pursuits In progress calls Project Lifesaver Search and rescues Navigation Medivac Fire suppression Illegal crop investigations ---PAGE BREAK--- Onondaga County Sheriff’s Aviation Unit 2009 • Air 1 flew a total of 235.5 hours • Responded to 617 calls for service • Conducted 67 Homeland Security checks. • Conducted 33 Navigation checks • Staffed by paramedics for 304.5 hours 2009 Snap Shot 1-17-09 – Air 1 responded to a report of a vehicle partially submerged in water on Route 91. Vehicle located and ground units directed to area. 1-31-09 – Lafayette Fire requested assistance in locating a snowmobiler who was injured after an accident. Air 1 located subject in a ravine and directed medics to her location. Subject subsequently airlifted to University Hospital. 2-14-09 – Air 1 responded to Route 81 near Route 31 on an accident where the occupants fled the scene. Air 1 searched the area and located several subjects and directed ground units to their location where they were taken into custody. 2-21-09 – Air 1 requested for a medevac on Kingdom Road in the Town of VanBuren and airlifted a shooting victim to University Hospital. 2-25-09 – Air 1 responded to a Project Lifesaver activation involving a missing person suffering from Alzheimer’s. Air 1 detected the transmitters signal and directed ground units to the person’s location. 3-6-08 – Air 1 assisted Skaneateles Fire search and locate missing fisherman on Skaneateles Lake. 4-22-09 – Air -1 responded to a pursuit on Route 481 near Soule Road. Vehicle located and Air 1 provided lighting while suspect was taken into custody. 4-25-09 - Requested to assist fire units with outdoor fire near Henry Clay Boulevard. Clay Fire Department requested water drops to surrounding area to prevent rekindle. 5-10-09 – Assisted United States Secret Service with an escort of Vice President Biden’s motorcade from Syracuse International Airport to Syracuse University and back. 5-11-09 – Air 1 responded to a Leo Drive, Town of Dewitt for a burglary in progress. Upon arrival, crew checked area and located suspects who had exited the building. Air 1 directed ground units who subsequently apprehended suspects. 6-24-09 – Air 1 participated in “Operation Eagle Eye” targeting reckless 6-27-09 – Assisted Syracuse Police Department check area of Route 81 near Leon Avenue where juveniles were reported throwing rocks at vehicles. Suspect were located and Air -1 directed ground units to them. 8-5-09 – Air 1 responded to Oneida Lake for an overturned boat, flight crew located vessel and directed South Bay Water Rescue to the scene. 9-7-09 – Air 1 assisted Seneca Knolls and Liverpool Fire Department with fire on Klein Island. Flight crew helped extinguish fire with Air 1’s Bambi bucket.