Airborne law enforcement
Protecting the community from above
Carlos “Danny” Casanova fell in love with aviation while working as a deputy sheriff with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. Now, he’s protecting his community from above in an Airbus H125 police helicopter as an aircraft commander and airborne law enforcement pilot.
Carlos “Danny” Casanova
Aircraft commander and airborne law enforcement pilot
Qualifications: Commercial pilot certificate, flight instructor and rotorcraft privileges, second class medical, and must meet qualifications for a deputy sheriff.
Favorite part of the job: “The sense of purpose it provides me.”
Least favorite part of the job: Emails, paperwork, and the possibility of having to work weekends and holidays.
Pay: $89,000 salary, benefits including pension after 25 years of service or age 52, take-home vehicle. Unit commanders can make up to $123,000.
Casanova said the job gives him a sense of purpose. “Every day, I’m given the opportunity to serve and protect my community from a vantage point that few get to experience.
“I also enjoy the unique combination of challenges it presents,” Casanova said. “Balancing the skill and precision required for flying with the quick thinking and situational awareness necessary for law enforcement work. We do not follow a set flight plan as each mission is unique and requires us to be flexible and adaptive. Our actions and decisions during each flight are guided by the mission’s needs. My top priority is to ensure the safety and success of each mission.”
Casanova’s day begins with a preflight inspection of the duty aircraft. Next, Casanova checks the weather, completes a crew flight risk assessment, and meets with his colleagues to discuss any current situations that require immediate air assistance. Throughout the day Casanova may be called upon for missions such as aerial surveillance, search and rescue, or support for ground-based units during incidents.
“As part of my job, I conduct patrols over the county to monitor any suspicious activities and be on standby for immediate response,” Casanova said. “We target our patrols based on crime trends and analytical data collected within our department. During downtime, we engage in training to enhance our skills and knowledge so that we can handle any situation that may come up. I find my job exciting because each day presents unique challenges.”
“Every day is different when serving and protecting the community from the sky,” Casanova said. “The work environment is exciting and unpredictable, and the advanced technology helps to develop a broad range of skills from communication to decision-making under high pressure. The aviation team and ground units share a profound sense of camaraderie. We all want to catch the bad guy. Seeing the world from a bird’s eye view is a privilege that few jobs offer and gives a unique perspective and appreciation for the surroundings and community being served. It’s an amazing experience to work on a law enforcement mission followed by watching the sunset during the same flight; sunset flights are my favorites.” FT
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