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Skyway patrol Mail Tribune / Drew Fleming Sgt. Tom Owen prepares for take-off before a two-hour patrol in Metro Air One, an eye in the sky for local police. A variety of local police agencies use the craft, which is staffed with officers from Central Point. Air One force sets precedent for police work By JILL BRISKEY Patrolling the Rogue Valley while hovering 900 feet above the ground takes a bit of getting used to. Instead of looking for street signs and alleyways, pilots instead use roof tops and backyards as markers. "It�s a whole different world up here, especially at night," said Sgt. Thomas Owen, a tactical flight and unit training officer. "We�re always using our eyes and ears. We use our ears more than a ground patrol enforcement would." The Central Point police officer serves on Metro Air One � a jet turbine helicopter that that assists and supports ground patrol. "We also help locate people who are lost in the woods," Owen said. LongRanger rides again in helicopter Metro Air One flies a jet turbine helicopter, or Bell 206L3 "LongRanger." The craft can carry five passengers or approximately 2,100 pounds of cargo. Patrol speeds range from 60 knots (70 mph) to a maximum of 120 knots (140 mph). During daylight hours, the helicopter patrols from 500 to 800 feet above the ground. At night, the craft usually remains between 800 and 1,000 feet in the air. The average patrol time is two hours, although the helicopter has a maximum time aloft of 4 hours. The flight crew includes chief pilot Herb Sutton, unit training officer Tom Owen and tactical flight officer Jeff Britton, all of the Central Point Police Department. Other participants include instructor pilot Ben Pose of Talent police, tactical flight officers Steve Brown of the Ashland police and Darren May of Eagle Point police. The crew of Metro Air One fly the helicopter for six to eight hours each week on a random schedule, often dependent on the weather, Owen said. Metro Air One was formed in late 1997 by six local police agencies. The $1.2 million aircraft and its equipment is funded by Snowy Butte Helicopters owner Herb Sutton, who also underwrites the helicopter�s operating expenses , which run $500 per hour. Ashland, Central Point, Eagle Point, Phoenix, Shady Cove and Talent police departments subscribe to the service, paying for items such as fuel as each agency�s budget allows. The U.S. Marshal Service, Oregon State Police and Medford Police Department also have entered into agreements to use Metro Air One�s services. Officers from the subscribing departments have trained to serve as Metro Air One�s tactical flight personnel � flight officers who watch the ground while aboard the chopper. In addition to helping ground patrols, crew members have an opportunity to report illegal burns, patrol areas that are inaccessible to ground units such as rooftops or enclosures, follow a vehicle or foot pursuit, and videotape activity on the ground. "We don�t use Air One for any drug enforcement," Owen said. Thursday, a 17-year-old male who ran from officers who were questioning him in Central Point was captured thanks to help from Metro Air One, said police Chief Mike Sweeny. As Medford police joined Central Point officers in a ground search, Sweeny said the crew swooped in to help. "The helicopter was able to see a dog in a yard that was acting agitated," Sweeny said. "There officers found the fugitive hiding in a garden-like shed." The teen, who had a warrant for his arrest, was lodged in the juvenile detention facility. "We don�t know if the suspect would have been found without help," Sweeny said. The helicopter�s noise and visibility provide other benefits, Owen said. Often, suspects who would normally flee the scene of a crime do not if Metro Air One is present. "It can be intimidating to them," Owen said. "It can provide tremendous support to the arresting officers." Onboard the aircraft, Owen said the searchlight (a NightSun SX-16) is a 30 million candlepower device � a very bright light. The craft also features state-of-the-art infrared viewers, a siren and computerized topographic maps. With the infrared system in place, pilots can track heat sources in the darkness. The system is used to find missing persons, Owen said, or track a fugitive on the run. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.