Fort Worth Police Department Strategic Plan
SOUTH COMMAND The South Command consists of the South and East Patrol Divisions as well as the Traffic Division, Air Support, and Auto Pound/Fleet Services.
Air Support
Air Support owns and operates two Bell 206-B3 Jet Ranger helicopters. FWPD primarily uses Air Support for law enforcement related incidents, search and rescue operations, emergency management, traffic management, and administrative purposes. Each helicopter is equipped with a police radio, a thermal imaging camera or FLIR (forward-looking infrared), a video camera, a spot/search light, and a GPS navigation system to allow direct response to any coordinates. Currently, both helicopter airframes are aging, in need
Heliport Hangar
of replacement, and no longer manufactured by Bell Helicopter (One currently has over 22,000 hours, which is the equivalent to a vehicle with 800,000 miles, and the other over 12,000 hours). Each helicopter is required to have certain maintenance completed at certain hour of operation intervals. The cost of long-term maintenance increases as each airframe accumulates additional hours. These aircrafts function well as observation platforms, but lack the power and ability to provide rescue capabilities, tactical insertions of personnel, and other uses that larger modern aircrafts provide. The FWPD is the only Law Enforcement Agency in Tarrant County that operates an Air Support Unit and is one of three law enforcement agencies operating air support units in the North Texas Region. As the city continues to experience growth, the need for helicopters with enhanced search and rescue and tactical functionalities will concurrently increase. The Department is currently in the Request for Proposal (RFP) stage in acquiring one new helicopter of the type and configuration needed to address future service needs. FWPD anticipates the new helicopter, if approved, will be in service at the beginning of FY18. The second helicopter requires mandatory replacement within 3-years.
Responsible Party - Lead
Funding Status
Strategic Direction
Goal Air Support Unit
Timeline
Retrofit both helicopters with night- vision goggles (NVG) compatible equipment and purchase two sets of night-vision goggles for crews to use at night. Purchase two larger and more powerful helicopters to replace the existing ones. Establish internal training and annual in-house proficiency checks for pilots and flight officers. Rewrite the FWPD Air Support Standard Operating Procedures manual and approve for implementation.
Funding Needed
1
Chief Pilot
FY18
TI
Patrol Assistant Chief
2
FY18
CCPD, Grant
TI
No Funding Needed
3
Chief Pilot
Annual
P
No Funding Needed
4
Chief Pilot
FY17
O
Bureau Overview and Goals
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