On October 25, 2010, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Air Support Unit received the coveted “Excellence in Police Aviation Unit Award” in Orlando Florida at the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference. This award is given by the leadership of the IACP through the efforts of their Aviation Committee and through the generosity of Bell Helicopters.

The unit award emphasizes initiatives to enhance the general level and safety of operations, accident prevention programs, and the efficiency and effectiveness of airborne law enforcement.

The Kern County Sheriff’s Air Support Unit was founded in 1975 and has amassed an amazing 50,000+ hours of accident/incident-free flight serving the citizens of Kern County. The unit performs a variety of functions including patrol, search and rescue, narcotics surveillance, hoist rescue, SWAT insertion, and personnel transport.

(Photo credit Skip Robinson)
(Press release received by HeliHub.com on 1st November)