The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) recently hosted a specialized airborne public safety training event in Austin. The training was held on April 23 and 24 at the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Flight Services hangar. It saw participation from over 150 law enforcement officers, encompassing local, state, and federal levels, some traveling from outside Texas.
DPS Aircraft Operations Division (AOD) Chief Stacy Holland emphasized the importance of aircraft operations in law enforcement, stating, “From tracking down criminals on the run to answering rescue calls during natural disasters, aircraft operations play a critical role in protecting the public from a variety of threats.”
Participants engaged with experts from several notable organizations such as the Federal Aviation Administration, United States Customs and Border Protection, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, among others. The agenda covered a wide range of topics, including real-life rescue operations, airborne smuggling interdiction, and the use of unmanned aircraft systems.
One of the event’s highlights was a helicopter hoist rescue demonstration by DPS’s AOD personnel. These rescues are particularly crucial when ground-based methods are too risky.
DPS’s Aircraft Operations Division is one of the largest airborne law enforcement units in the United States. It boasts 12 duty stations, 26 aircraft equipped with advanced technology, and a team of over 100 personnel. The division is instrumental in tasks including statewide air patrol and criminal surveillance, contributing significantly to Texas’ Operation Lone Star border security mission.
