Q: What can you tell us about the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office aviation unit?
A: We refer to them as our “eyes in the sky.” Currently we have two aircraft: a 2013 Bell 407 that we bought used from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and a 1969 Vietnam-era Bell OH-58 that we acquired repurposed in the 1990s under Sheriff Perry from the federal government under the 1033 program. It’s important to have two aircraft in case one is undergoing maintenance. About two years ago, we ordered a new Bell 407 to replace the 1969 aircraft, since parts are becoming scarce for repairs to that aircraft. We anticipate getting the new aircraft in late 2024.
We currently lease space at the St. Augustine Regional Airport and share a hangar with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), which also has two helicopters.
Q: What personnel does the unit have?
A: The aviation unit is under the Operations Division. We have four pilots and the lead pilot has the rank of sergeant. These pilots are all very experienced and the goal is to get the aircraft in the air more, which we have been successful in doing. In 2023, we flew 475 flight hours; so far in 2024 we have 590 flight hours. The unit also has two full time mechanics and a part time mechanic.
Q: What are some highlights of the “eyes in the sky?”
A: They are able to assist us in real time, which adds an extra layer of safety for the community as well as our deputies. For example, they can advise the deputy sheriffs who are in cars as to oncoming traffic.
Flights by our aviation unit are both reactive and proactive — and they can physically respond to calls for service, such as swimmers in distress, stolen vehicles, missing children or elderly, suspected criminals in pursuit, in progress calls and the proactive traffic enforcement for traffic stops.
Q: Do you partner with other agencies?
A: We have many partnerships with local agencies such as St. Johns Fire and Rescue, St. Augustine City Fire Department, and surrounding municipalities. We provide mutual aid for Clay, Flagler and Putnam counties as well as St. Johns County municipalities, Florida Highway Patrol, and FWC. We have a great partnership with the city of Jacksonville as well. Since the closest US Coast Guard Search and Rescue is in Savannah, Georgia, we bolster their search and rescue attempts. We can get on the scene quicker in our area and drop a raft if necessary, but we can’t hoist up to our aircraft. We patrol 221 square miles of water in St. Johns County in addition to our 42 miles of beaches. We know lives are being saved because of our aviation unit.
Q: What is the best way for our readers to contact you with any questions or suggestions about this article?
A: They can email me at sheriff@sjso.org or call me at (904) 824-8304. Also, our website, www.sjso.org has a wealth of resources, from alarm registration to Crime Stoppers to our Neighbors app.
