Police Aviation

[cougar6903]

Anyone know which Police forces hire from within only and which hire off the street pilots? LA police? NYPD? If anyone has flown for the police I would like to hear from you.

 

[DX Rick]

I know if Illinois, you must be a cop before a pilot. Too bad they don't hire from the street.
I assume other agencies have the same policy

 

[Mevans]

Most hire only sworn officers. Some, mostly those units that do combined SAR, EMS and law enforcement are more likley to contract out to non sworn. Check out www.alea.org They have a search program of flight units with the qualification requirements. Most tend to look at their aviation units as "Law enforcement officers who fly, rather than pilots who assist law enforcement".

 

[sqwkvfr]

I haven't heard of an agency that hires pilots off the street...aside from some federal ones and even then you've still gotta go through the academy and get certified.

You've gotta prove yourself in the patrol division before moving into a specialized squad or unit...and I'd imagine that you'd have to kiss some serious booty to get assigned to the aviation unit.

 

[psysicx]

Some agencies with let you get on fairly quickly if there in not a lot of interest but others like LAPD make you wait five years.

 

[msuspartans24]

I know that phoenix is 3 years of patrol then you can take the test to get into the flight dept, but I hear 6+ years is common before they will take you.

 

[cougar6903]

Most hire only sworn officers. Some, mostly those units that do combined SAR, EMS and law enforcement are more likley to contract out to non sworn. Check out www.alea.org They have a search program of flight units with the qualification requirements. Most tend to look at their aviation units as "Law enforcement officers who fly, rather than pilots who assist law enforcement".

Looks like its a members only site. Do you happen to be a member? If so please PM me. Thanks

 

[FN FAL]

Henrico County Division of Police only hires from within and utilizes only fixed wing aircraft. Last I heard, you could spend the better part of a decade getting into that aviation unit.

Jacksonville has quite a few helicopters. They require a minimum of five years on the street before you can put your request in to join the aviation unit. Having ratings doesn't help...it's by seniority. If accepted in the flight department, you will start out as an observer, then it's up to you to get your ratings at your own cost. Moving from observer to pilot can take longer than five years, depending on retirements.

One time back in the mid 90's, I was approached by a fellow skydiver who was with the Charleston S.C. police department. He said they were looking for a pilot and would consider "off the street" pilots, but they had to have fixed and rotary wing ratings and the ability to be certified as a police officer.

Most of these police flying positions are sought after by men and women already in the ranks who would like a break from the routine of policing, but not all departments exclude outside help...good luck.

 

[FN FAL]

As a post script, one of my other skydiving/flying friends, was a SGT with the Outtagamie Sheriff's Office near Appleton WI. He would rent planes and do prisoner transport stuff for his agency and others. Most times he would rent a Barron from MaxAir or use another deputy's Cardinal. The agency would cover the rental of the FBO plane or costs on the personal plane and pay the deputies salaries.

 

[FN FAL]

Anyone know which Police forces hire from within only and which hire off the street pilots? LA police? NYPD? If anyone has flown for the police I would like to hear from you.

here is an article that recently highlights a police department hiring off the street helicopter pilots...

http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section_id=9&screen=news&news_id=39075

 

[Flash]

I get Professional Pilot magazine (freebie) every month. They have been highlighting a different police aviation unit every month. From what I recall it seems that most require you to be on patrol first, but NY State Police does not, which surprised me. You might check and see if they have an on line site or see if you can get a copy and contact the editor to see if you can get more info

 

[MGlobemaster]

From my time interning with the Omaha Police Air Support unit I learned that the police units want pilots with time on the streets. They want the pilot to know how a criminal will react based off of experience. Also, units with civilian pilots tend to not have the success rate as those with sworn officers at the controls.

 

[ATCER]

NYPD pilots are all officers first... and it's a bit political to get into the unit. A few of us (controllers) got a tour of their operation back in 01' ... VERY IMPRESSIVE ... the whole unit are officers from the pilots to mechanics. They were a very friendly group, probably one of the most impressive tours I have ever taken. I hear LAPD has the same type of operation...


I wonder what kinda hours you need to fly Blue Thunder for the LAPD ?

 

[The Natural]

I know if Illinois, you must be a cop before a pilot. Too bad they don't hire from the street.
I assume other agencies have the same policy

Does illinois fly something besides C-172 for traffic violations?