High-flying help: South Dakota’s only law enforcement plane gives officers an edge – KNBN NewsCenter1

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. — The one legislation enforcement plane within the State of South Dakota was additionally on show on the 2022 Ellsworth Air and Area Present.

South Dakota Freeway Patrol’s Cessna T-206 covers completely different legislation enforcement calls to help public security throughout the state. The airplane responds to something from visitors enforcement to high-speed pursuits.

Flying about 420 hours a yr, the Cessna’s two individual crew consists of a pilot and a tactical flight officer working collectively to help officers on the bottom.

“We mainly try to work slightly bit smarter and put officers in positions the place they will forestall issues from taking place that we don’t need to occur,” says Sgt. Sarah Schumacher, who pilots the airplane.

Schumacher says Freeway Patrol acquired the airplane in 2007, and in 2014, it was usual with it’s high-tech digicam, which is operated by the tactical flight officer from the again seat.

The “forward-looking infrared” – or “flip” – digicam detects warmth signature, and is used when trying to find lacking individuals or suspects who’ve fled a scene on foot.

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