On Saturday May 19th members of the department’s River Rescue and Tactical Services Team (RRATS) attended a Helo Operations Course with the U.S. Park Police Aviation Unit. The course is designed to instruct personnel on proper hoist operations for evacuating flood victims, or persons injured in limited access areas where an ambulance may not be able to reach them, or where the helicopter cannot land. Members traveled down to the Park Police Hangar at the “Eagles Nest” in Anacostia to attend the training. This course is just a part of the advanced training our swift water rescue technicians must take, and re-cert each year in order to maintain proficiency in their field. Many thanks to the pilots and crew of the U.S. Park Police Helicopter “Eagle-1”. For those who may remember, this is the same unit who assisted in the rescue of victims from the frozen Potomac during the Air Florida Crash in the 80s. Although the names and faces have changed over the years, the dedication and professionalism of the U.S. Park Police Aviation Unit continues to set the bar high!

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