Jenks Riverside Composite Squadron cadets speak with Roger Crow about some of his experiences flying for the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office.
Photo by Capt. Rick Rutledge, Oklahoma Wing
Capt. Rick Rutledge
Commander
Jenks Riverside Composite Squadron
Oklahoma Wing
OKLAHOMA – The phrase “war on drugs” took on added meaning recently for cadets in the Jenks Riverside Composite Squadron, thanks to a visit from Roger Crow, founder and general manager of Tulsa-based Echo Flight Resources as well as a reserve deputy who serves as tactical flight officer for the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office.
With so much of America’s fight against illegal narcotics being kept secret, the opportunity to visit with someone who works on the front lines and to see some of the new tools being used was an opportunity not to be ignored.
In flying for the sheriff’s office, Crow uses technology that was at one time available only to the U.S. Air Force and federal agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“The war on drugs continues to be close to home,” he said, “and using FLIR technology, the Tulsa County sheriff now has a leg up in that fight.” The FLIR – for Forward-Looking Infrared – system uses heat signatures to create an image for the user, allowing for easier targeting from an airborne source.
The cadets were able to speak one-on-one with Crow regarding his duties with the sheriff’s office and his love for aviation, and they also got a look at the Flight Design CTLE light-sport aircraft used in his missions.
“It’s pretty neat that they are using more aviation resources to fight the war on drugs, and hopefully one day aviation can be credited with stopping drugs altogether using this kind of technology,” said Cadet Maj. Abby Donajkowski.
