Small Town News

Air Support Unit activities now on web site

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Now citizens have a cure for curiosity

Citizens curious about the sheriff's helicopter unit can now get a brief rundown of its activities by accessing the website www.SpokaneSheriff. org and clicking first on the Air Support Unit link, and then on the Incident Reports link.

Area residents frequently contact media for information after hearing Air One circling their neighborhood at night or seeing it above during daytime searches or other law enforcement operations.

Crews will attempt to update the Incident Reports log at the end of each flight. Air One typically flies two or three shifts a week, but frequently is called out for specific operations such as searches for downed aircraft or lost hikers.

Air One team member Corporal Dave Ellis said that sensitive incidents such as surveillance over flights, prowl checks and assistance to active police investigations will not be listed.The Air Support Unit was established in 2005 when the United States Army donated to the Spokane County Sheriff's Office a Bell OH-58 helicopter, designated "Air-1". Since then,

the Air Support Unit has provided valuable search and rescue, fugitive searching, fire suppression, surveillance, homeland security critical infrastructure checks, natural disaster damage assessment, and patrol services to the Inland Northwest.

As the only local law enforcement helicopter operated in the region, the Air Support Unit has been used throughout the Inland Northwest in locations as far away as Chelan County, Walla Walla County, Kootenai County, Stevens County, Whitman County, Lincoln County, Yakima County, and Klickitat County. The Air Support Unit is located at Felts Field.



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© 2010 Cheney Free Press Cheney, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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