Aviation Unit
In addition to criminal apprehension and rescue operations, BSO's Aviation Unit provides emergency medicial transport services.
The unit provides assistance to other Broward County agencies and the U.S. Coast Guard.
BSO's Aviation Unit has provided air support over the skies of Broward County since 1970. The unit provides assistance to all city, county, state and federal agencies in Broward County.
It's duties include, but are not limited to:
- Assistance with criminal apprehension
- Search and rescue operations
- On-scene EMS trauma transports
- Locating missing persons
- Vehicle pursuit assistance
- Stolen vehicle recoveries using Lojack
- SWAT and Dive Team deployment
- Crime scene photography
The unit operates three American Eurocopter helicopters. The aircraft are equipped with 30 million candlepower searchlights, moving map systems, infrared detection and Lojack.
Each pilot is required to possess a commercial helicopter rating. They must all complete yearly factory flight training, mandated in-house training and specialty training with the SWAT team. They must also pass a proficiency flight check-ride each year in each of the aircraft with a designated FAA examiner.
The unit has one sergeant, six to seven pilots, three mechanics and 11 flight medic observers. The annual budget is approximately $3.2 million.
- Specialized Units Main Page
- Bicycle Patrol
- Bomb Squad
- Canine Unit
- Child Protective Investigations Section
- Contractor Licensing and Fraud Unit
- Crime Scene and Crime Lab
- Crime Stoppers Unit
- Criminal Investigations Division
- DUI Unit
- Economic Crime Unit
- Evidence Unit
- Marine Unit and Dive Team
- Metro Broward Drug Task Force
- Motorcycle Unit
- Mounted Patrol
- SWAT Team
- Victim Services Unit
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