MENU
SEARCHA new Robinson R44 police helicopter and airborne law enforcement program arrived in Kigali. The airship arrived with the latest police equipment including microwave down-link ability and the latest FLIR thermal-imaging systems.
El Monte (Calif.) PD's officer Jose Barajas (in black shirt) trained Rwandan police pilots.Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Helicopters.
El Monte (Calif.) police officer Jose Barajas traveled to Kigali, Rwanda, earlier this year to spend 10 days training the African city's police pilots.
Barajas, a pilot officer who has flown police missions for over 12 years, has amassed close to 10,000 hours patrolling in the agency's Robinson Police R44.
Mountainess terrain, 30 degree Celsius temperatures, few maps and fewer street names are just a few of the challenges faced by the pilots in Kigali. Despite these challenges, Barajas and a team from Akagera Aviation overcame the obstacles and successfully completed the training with high standards.
The inaugural flight of "Police One" flown by Barajas and Baard took off for patrol the night of Jan. 27, 2010.
Barajas traveled on behalf of Los Angeles Helicopters' law enforcement division, which partnered with Akagera Aviation to jointly train the Kigali Police Department's new airborne unit.
Akagera recently purchased a new Robinson R44 police helicopter and initiated an airborne law enforcement program for Kigali, the capitol of Rwanda. The airship arrived with the latest police equipment including microwave down-link ability and the latest FLIR thermal-imaging systems.
Akagera Aviation had contacted Los Angeles Helicopters to negotiate for a highly qualified and skilled pilot with law enforcement experience to travel to Kigali, Rwanda and train five of their police pilots in the use of all the equipment as well as airborne law enforcement (ABLE) tactics.
"The course was exactly what I needed in terms of introduction to the work," said David Baard, Akagera's director of operations. "We achieved what we needed to. The course was well prepared and presented. The theory was well organized and relevant."
The training was closely monitored by government officials, and officer Barajas was asked to present an overview of the program to the officials at the completion of the course. In addition, Los Angeles Helicopters and Akagera are currently in talks regarding a future vertical reference and long-line training program.
Amped FIVE empowers you to advance your investigations with confidence and precision, from the crime scene all the way to the courtroom.
Read More →
A Burbank Police Department K-9 was fatally shot over the weekend by a passenger who fled on foot from a traffic stop. The armed suspect was killed in a shootout with officers.
Read More →
In this video, learn about how InVeris provides training to law enforcement, including customized augmented reality scenarios. The augmented reality system can scan up to 10,000 square feet of real-life environments and create a curriculum based on those spaces.
Read More →
Learn about Polaris Government & Defense in this video as POLICE visits their show booth to discover their side-by-sides and the advantages they provide for agencies.
Read More →
Dashcam video released by a New Jersey police department shows two of its officers rescuing an unconscious man from a burning car after a crash.
Read More →
The Aimpoint COA optic + A-CUT system has been named Red Dot of the Year by Guns & Ammo magazine. The new optic system was introduced in January 2025.
Read More →
Join POLICE as we visit with Abi Stock, of Axon, to learn about the company’s latest technology offerings, such as Axon Assistant, Form One, and the DFR integration with Skydio.
Read More →
Alex Poythress, co-founder and CEO of Ballistic Armor Co., explains why ballistic helmet buyers should insist on full test data, including BFD measurements, standoff distance, and padding configuration, rather than rely solely on penetration ratings.
Read More →
In its 15th year of supporting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Streamlight donated $20,000 to help in the fight against cancer. Donations were generated through the sale of special Wedge XT models and other pink flashlights.
Read More →
Talk To Me Post Tour (TTMPT), a non-profit organization that has been providing peer-support programs and professional psychological support for first responders, is now expanding services to military veterans.
Read More →