Spokane County Sheriff Office Regional Air Support Unit Earns Re-accreditation by Airborne Law Enforcement Association (ALEA)
Last week, a contingent of Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Regional Air Support Unit (SRASU) personnel attended the ALEA Expo where they received the great news the Air Support Unit earned re-accreditation by ALEA and the Public Safety Aviation Accreditation Commission (PSAAC). The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Regional Air Support Unit is one of ten public safety aviation units, nationally, to successfully completely this intense process.
The intent of the accreditation process is to encourage safe, efficient and accident free aviation operations in support of law enforcement missions. PSAAC and ALEA developed standards to objectively evaluate and certify a unit’s overall compliance to help achieve this intent for the safety of the public and the flight crews.
Although the accreditation process is completely voluntary, it establishes standards and a solid base of operation, which provides a vital safety structure and measuring device of excellence, quality, safety and effective service.
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Regional Air Support Unit first received accreditation in 2014 and was one of only five air support units in the entire country to have their program fully accredited through PSAAC and ALEA at that time.
The SRASU has also been honored to receive the 5-Year Night Vison Service Award (2014) and the 2013 Tactical Flight Officer (TFO Detective Jeff Thurman) ALEA Award while safely serving the citizens of Spokane County and the entire Eastern Washington and North Idaho Region.
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Captain Dave Ellis (SRASU Director & ALEA Western Region Director) said, “It is important to remember all the Air 1 pilots are volunteers and without their dedication, we wouldn’t even have an Air Support Unit. I am so proud of what our pilots and TFOs have accomplished while providing an invaluable resource to our community with a perfect safety record since its inception 12 years ago.”
Congratulations to all the members of the SRASU and their supporting agencies.
Agencies that have successfully completed accreditation:
California Highway Patrol Air Operations Division
Columbus Police Division Helicopter Unit
Federal Bureau of Investigation – Tactical Helicopter Unit
Federal Bureau of Investigation – Field Flight Operation Offices
Florida Highway Patrol Aviation Division (Expired)
Houston Police Air Support Division
Metro Air Support Unit of St. Louis
Orange County (CA) Sheriff’s Department Air Support Unit
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Regional Air Support Unit
Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit
