| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 4402 | 2010-01-15 | Troop E | State Police Air Support Joins in Search for Lost Boy |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent News Release Date: January 15, 2010 State Police Air Support Joins in Search for Lost Boy Yesterday afternoon, a young boy from the Deville, LA area went missing after returning home from school. The incident occurred in the area of LA Hwy 115 and John Lawrence Road after the boy’s parents reported him missing to the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office. Deputies arrived on the scene and immediately began searching the nearby area, but were unable to locate the juvenile. Deputies phoned the Louisiana State Police and requested the assistance of the Air Support Unit. The Air Support Unit immediately activated the two pilots based in Alexandria for the mission. The pilots made the short flight to the Deville community in a helicopter equipped with FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared). FLIR is a precise instrument that measures heat, distinguishes different heat sources, and produces an image from various heat sources. Upon arriving on the scene, they immediately began searching the area using the FLIR instrument. After an extensive search of the area, the pilots noticed an object on the FLIR monitor indicating an unknown heat source. The information and location was relayed to deputies on the ground, which subsequently led to the boy’s recovery. The juvenile was located by the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office at 9:30 pm, approximately one hundred yards from a neighbor’s residence in good health. When located, he was found to be sleeping next to his dog and was apparently unaware of the search efforts. “The Air Support Unit is an invaluable public safety resource committed to protecting Louisiana’s greatest asset, its citizens,” said Colonel Mike Edmonson, State Police Superintendent. “I have placed pilots and aircraft in Baton Rouge, Alexandria and Ruston to ensure availability for troopers and our local, state and federal law enforcement partners throughout South, Central and North Louisiana.” The mission of the Air Support Unit is to enhance statewide public safety by providing effective aerial support to the Louisiana State Police and our law enforcement partners. All State Police pilots are full-time commissioned state troopers with full arrest powers. Additionally, they are required to be dual rated licensed by the FAA to operate both rotary and fixed-wing aircraft. The Air Support Unit provides a very important and necessary tool in support of traffic enforcement, criminal investigations, marijuana eradication, SWAT missions, surveillance, and contraflow efforts. They assist local, parish, state and federal government agencies during floods and are used extensively before and after hurricanes. The Air Support Unit responds to all hazards, which threaten Louisiana. Contact: S/T Scott Moreau Louisiana State Police Troop E Public Affairs Office: (318) 487-5911 www.lsp.org _______________________________________________________ xxx LSP xxx | |||
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