FROM THE DESK OF THE EDITOR Law Enforcement is Still a Noble Profession
Ever since my daughter went into a high school criminal justice magnet program in the ninth grade, she wanted to work in law enforcement (LE).
Her accomplishments recently coalesced to launch the career that she worked so hard to achieve. She finished an internship with a federal LE agency, graduated with her bachelor’s degree, and was accepted into another university’s graduate program for LE intelligence. Within two weeks of graduation, she was hired by an LE agency.
I’ve always been a fan of LE. Although not directly involved in it, I’ve been tied to that field for much of my career in more ways than one. Having said that, given the current political environment and my own child’s entry into the field, I couldn’t help but wonder: Is now a good time to be entering LE?
After reflection and talking to people in the field, I learned that the people who are in that line of work don’t really think that way. It’s not about politics. It’s not about power. It’s really about service. I mean, think about it. Every officer or agent knows they have an above-average risk of being killed when they go to work each day. Why would people choose such a high-risk career, if not for the desire to serve others being in their DNA?
Risk Management
On the subject of high risk, I recently spent a few days with an LE agency in Florida. The SWAT team was performing fast rope ops from helicopters as part of its regular training. Day two was
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Editor-In-Chief Lyn Burks
lyn.burks@rotorcraftpro.com Account Executive
Teri Rivas
teri.rivas@rotorcraftpro.com Brad Shubargo
brad@rotorcraftpro.com Circulation Manager
Laura Lentz Layout Design
Bryan Matuskey
production@rotorcraftpro.com
Lyn Burks, Editor-In-Chief
a long, hot day with dozens of ops occurring with multiple teams. The teams were building up to a pinnacle scenario in which SWAT members were to be successfully deployed onto the small rooftop of a three-story shoot house, make entry and mitigate a threat using lethal force. The original plan was to perform this fast- paced mission near the end of the day. However, when the unit instructors, crew chiefs, and pilots came together to perform a risk assessment, it was decided to put the operation off until day three of training. Considering the length of the day (seven hours to that point) and the unseasonably high temperatures while the team members were wearing full body armor, it was recognized that fatigue could likely become a risk factor during one of the most complex and high-risk training operations up to that point.
I was present during that meeting when I heard one of the senior SWAT instructors say that there’s no training operation worth risking the injury of a team member because of something that can be controlled, like fatigue. The very next morning, with rested teams and pilots, the pinnacle training evolution went off without a hitch. You can learn more about that op on page 46.
We at Rotorcraft Pro are grateful for the men and women who serve our country and communities in LE in order to protect and defend us regular citizens. Our team will be at the Airborne Public Safety Conference this July in New Orleans, so come on by our booth and let us thank you in person!
Online Accounts Manager Lynnette Burks
lynnette.burks@rotorcraftpro.com Copy Editors
Rick Weatherford
Joanna Nellans Social Media Guru Laura Lentz
Conributing Writers James Careless Randy Mains Joanna Nellans Brad McNally Rick Weatherford Tim Pruitt
Randy Rowles Sharon Desfor Matt Johnson Scott Skola
Corporate Officer Lyn Burks, CEO
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