BamaJam to have eye in the sky

The Coffee County Sheriff’s Department is flying high with the new $1 million addition to the force. The Coffee Airborne Law Enforcement Unit helicopter was introduced Monday to officials in the Coffee County Commission, Enterprise Police Chief T. D. Jones, Mayor Kenneth Boswell, and James Grimes, Elba Mayor, along with New Brockton Mayor Lenwood Herron.

Sheriff Dave Sutton said the wait for two and a half years was worth it.

“The long wait for the department’s helicopter is over and we’re very proud of it as such a valuable tool to use in law enforcement, not only for the department, but for other services and local enforcement agencies as well,” he said.

Sutton, along with Quiton Jerkins, the Crew Chief of Maintenance for the helicopter, said it took about nine months to refurbish.
Jerkins, who owns Double Bridges Aviation and is employed by Army Fleet Support, said, “the helicopter was given to the sheriff’s department by the Dale County Sheriff’s Department and the paint and striping was also donated.”

During the upcoming BamaJam weekend, Sutton added that the helicopter will be used to patrol crowds and traffic from the air.

“Just the presence of law enforcement in the air and on the ground will be deterrents,” he said.
So far, the helicopter is equipped with four sets of night vision goggles, able to magnify light up to several thousand times, an infrared system, which detects heat and a 30 million candle-power searchlight.