Above is LT. Ed Ormonde of the Ripon, Ca. Police department taking
off for another mission to protect and serve the community.
off for another mission to protect and serve the community.
Click here to email Lt. Ed Ormonde , or Sgt. Steve Merchant. of the Ripon CA
Police Department.
Police Department.
RIPON, Calif. — The Ripon Police Department recently received a
Justice Department grant to acquire a powered parachute at no cost
to the City. The grant provided $30,000 in equipment and training
from the Rural Law Enforcement Technology Center. This is not a
new technology, but a new use by law enforcement. There are only
six others in the United States used for this purpose, and Ripon is
the seventh -- and the only one in California.
The powered parachute will help in searching along the Stanislaus
River -- one pilot in the air can do the job of several officers on the
ground. Every summer, the Department receives several calls to find
lost and missing rafters along the river. They will be able to cover a
large area in just a few minutes. In town, Officers will be able to see
an entire neighborhood rather than just one street when searching
for missing children.
The aircraft can take off in less than 100 feet. It can fly at 35 mph in
calm weather, slower when flying into the wind. It has a 10-gallon
capacity gas tank
Sgt. Merchant and Lt. Ormonde volunteered to get pilot training, and
are now certified to fly the powered parachute. The air machine
weighs just over 400 pounds and can carry both officers. The big
advantage is that it costs about 30 dollars an hour to fly, which
includes fuel and maintenance. That compares to up to $1,500
dollars an hour for a helicopter or fixed wing aircraft. The powered
parachute is stored in a trailer and can be deployed in 15 minutes
once it arrives at a scene. In an emergency, the pilots can use
several of our city parks and elementary schools for take-off.
The Ripon Department is looking at getting PA system and camera
so dispatchers can see what is being seeing from the air. The
aircraft will be an observation platform. They will also be able to
locate marijuana activity in and around the city of Ripon.
Justice Department grant to acquire a powered parachute at no cost
to the City. The grant provided $30,000 in equipment and training
from the Rural Law Enforcement Technology Center. This is not a
new technology, but a new use by law enforcement. There are only
six others in the United States used for this purpose, and Ripon is
the seventh -- and the only one in California.
The powered parachute will help in searching along the Stanislaus
River -- one pilot in the air can do the job of several officers on the
ground. Every summer, the Department receives several calls to find
lost and missing rafters along the river. They will be able to cover a
large area in just a few minutes. In town, Officers will be able to see
an entire neighborhood rather than just one street when searching
for missing children.
The aircraft can take off in less than 100 feet. It can fly at 35 mph in
calm weather, slower when flying into the wind. It has a 10-gallon
capacity gas tank
Sgt. Merchant and Lt. Ormonde volunteered to get pilot training, and
are now certified to fly the powered parachute. The air machine
weighs just over 400 pounds and can carry both officers. The big
advantage is that it costs about 30 dollars an hour to fly, which
includes fuel and maintenance. That compares to up to $1,500
dollars an hour for a helicopter or fixed wing aircraft. The powered
parachute is stored in a trailer and can be deployed in 15 minutes
once it arrives at a scene. In an emergency, the pilots can use
several of our city parks and elementary schools for take-off.
The Ripon Department is looking at getting PA system and camera
so dispatchers can see what is being seeing from the air. The
aircraft will be an observation platform. They will also be able to
locate marijuana activity in and around the city of Ripon.
For more information about how this program can work for your
police force or to schedule a product demonstration contact:
Powrachute Corporation LLC.
lawenforcement@powrachute.com
Phone 616 647 7171
police force or to schedule a product demonstration contact:
Powrachute Corporation LLC.
lawenforcement@powrachute.com
Phone 616 647 7171
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