When an aircraft becomes involved in a vehicle pursuit, pursuing ground units can fall back and loosely follow the wanted vehicle. The whole objective of using an aircraft is to slow everyone down (including the wanted vehicle) and assure the safety of both police officers and the general public. Ground units, following loosely, can then be in a position to move in for the apprehension when the wanted vehicle stops or is parked. It should be noted that once the aircraft is overhead, it is almost impossible for the vehicle to get away. Many perpetrators understand the futility of fleeing from a pursuing aircraft, so if they realize that an aircraft is involved, they will try to return to a familiar neighborhood, abandon the vehicle and flee inside a large building. If any units are available, they could go the likely areas where the suspects will try to abandon their vehicle.
Using air patrol in vehicle pursuits
Kenneth J. Solosky retired from the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in 2007 after twenty one years of service as a Lieutenant/Chief Pilot/Director of Training in the Aviation Unit. His other assignments within the police department have included: patrol, patrol sergeant, patrol platoon commander, the Warrant Division and Police Academy instructor. Ken is licensed as a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) in both airplanes & helicopters and is a certified helicopter flight instructor. Ken has ratings as an advanced ground and instrument ground instructor. Ken is a certified New York State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B) currently serving as an EMT and Commissioner in the Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corps Inc. After retirement from the NYPD, he was appointed the Chief Pilot for the Newark, NJ Police Department Aviation Unit. He flies part-time with “Hoverviews Unlimited”, the premier aerial cinematography company on the east coast of the United States and with a nationally known architectural firm operating a Falcon 10 and Cessna 421 airplane. He also works part-time as an instructor in the North Shore/Long Island Jewish Health System Emergency Management and Corporate Security Departments. Contact Ken Solosky