By Bethany BROWN

The Pasadena Police Dept. (PPD) Air Operations Section hosted its 31^st annual airborne law enforcement fly-in training and lunch at the Rose Bowl Stadium on April 27. Helicopter crews from more than 30 public safety agencies statewide staged and landed in the emergency preparedness exercise.

While the event was closed to the public, many passersby watched in awe as helicopters from Fresno, Ontario, Riverside, Ventura and Long beach, among other places, systematically descended to the grass field adjacent to the stadium. PPD spokesperson Lt. Bill Grisafe said air units from as far as Sacramento County to San Diego County participated in the event.

Sgt. Steve Thurston, PPD, who has run the training program since it began, said the recent fly-in marked a return after being cancelled the last two years due to the pandemic and that “it was great to get back out there.” The training allows the PPD to see what kind of equipment other agencies would need as well as discuss ground handling like how they maneuver aircraft and how many can fit on the field.

With the Rose Bowl designated as a staging area for a large disaster or mass casualty situation, the coordinated landing and takeoff are key components of the exercise. Pasadena Air Ops – one of the oldest airborne law enforcement programs in that country – hosts the event to familiarize flight crews from outside agencies with the location of the Rose Bowl and the proper protocols of landing in the event of an earthquake, fire, active shooter or any emergency situation in which multiple aircraft would be needed.

“This is stuff that agencies don’t really get to practice anywhere else, so it’s valuable time and experience,” Thurston said. “I’d say this year was a huge success based upon the amount of participation from agencies throughout the state. We continue to learn and grow each year we do this.”

He stressed that this year was the largest as far as the number of helicopters goes, and they now know that the maximum they can fit on the field is 35. U.S. Customs and Border Protection was also in attendance providing general aviation airport security training. Their members advised agencies on what their authority is at the airport, including when they may or how they must investigate suspicious aircraft or suspicious people around an aircraft, who they can contact in the event of suspicious activity, and other topics.

“We all do things a little bit different, but similar,” Lt. Mike Ingram of Pasadena’s Air Operations unit told “Behind the Badge.” “Being able to talk the same language, work through our processes to make sure our plans are appropriate and safe is a good way for us to vet what we do. There are always lessons to be learned.”

Ingram said that if roads became compromised and individuals or supplies needed to be transported, securing this as a landing zone and ensuring agencies statewide are familiar with the process would allow them to do so in a safe and orderly fashion.

Cpl. Thomas Corralez, PPD, further emphasized the importance of the event and said it provides a crucial opportunity for agencies across the state to connect, compare protocols and learn from one another in the process.

“It’s about being prepared,” Corralez said. “We all want to keep the public safe, and this training allows us to come together and develop a plan of how in the worst of scenarios we will do so.”