Fairfax Helicopter Division Wins National Award

Fairfax County Police Department
Public Information Office
4100 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, Va. 22030
703-246-2253. TTY 703-204-2264. Fax 703-246-4253
FCPD-PIO@fairfaxcounty.gov
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police
News Release: 09/229/CSN
September 1, 2009

View the winning video here: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/news-releases/2009/video/helo.wmv.wmv

Fairfax Helicopter Division Wins National Award

The Fairfax County Police Helicopter Division won third place in the 2009 FLIR Vision Awards for their “catch” using an infrared camera. The case began when an officer attempted to stop a truck that had smoke emanating from it. The truck did not stop and continued along Interstate 495 into Maryland. The officer had to terminate his involvement, but the helicopter continued. The vehicle broke down just across state lines and the suspects fled on foot along the shoulder of the capital beltway. The flight crew, Pilot Garrett Wymer, Master Police Officer James Greeves, and Police Officer First Class Tammy Russell, followed the suspects until a Maryland officer responded.

While waiting on the Maryland officer, the flight crew of the helicopter witnessed the suspects’ unsuccessful attempt to carjack two separate vehicles. The first suspect eventually surrendered and the flight crew provided aerial backup as he was arrested. The second suspect ran and hid. After searching the area where the suspect was last seen, he was spotted hiding in a concrete drainage pipe. Due to the immense amount of heat radiating from the pipe, he was seen with the aid of the infrared camera. Both suspects were eventually arrested and it was later determined the truck had been reported stolen.

Police departments across the country and Canada participated in the competition.

FLIR Award Winners