>> A VANTAGE POINT YOU DO NOT
SEE.
CRIME FIGHTING MISSION FROM UP
IN THE AIR.
TONIGHT THE LOCAL 4 DEFENDERS
TAKE YOU ALONG FOR THE RIDE.
PROBABLY DO NOT KNOW THEY ARE
THERE.
FROM PARADES AND PROTESTS AND
CRIMINALS ON THE RUN.
EVEN RESCUING RESIDENTS WITH
ALZHEIMERS LOST.
OAKLAND COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
AVIATION UNIT SEEN IT ALL.
>> Anchor: TONIGHT IN A RARE
OPPORTUNITY.
DEFENDER KAREN DREW GETS US A
BIRD'S EYE VIEW ON HOW OFFICERS
ARE KEEPING US SAFE AND TRACKING
DOWN THE BAD GUYS.
KAREN?
>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE
EXPERTS ONE HELICOPTER IS THE
EQUIVALENT TO 12 POLICE CARS ON
THE GROUND.
BECAUSE THE CHOPPER CAN SEE A
LARGE PARAMETER IT CAN DO MORE
THAN JUST ONE CAR ALONE.
WE KNOW A CHOPPER CAN OBVIOUSLY
HELP IN POLICE CHASES BUT IT CAN
DO MORE.
MARCH OF 2014 AVIATION UNIT
HELPS IN A VEHICLE PURSUIT.
THANKS TO EYES IN THE SKY THEY
CAPTURE THE DRIVER ON THE RUN.
JLY OF 2015 OAKLAND COUNTY
SHERIFFS CHOPPER TRACKS DOWN A
BANK ROBBER IN AUBURN HILLS.
WHETHER IT IS A DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE CASE IN WATERFORD.
OR LOOKING FOR A BREAKING AND
ENTERING SUSPECT IN WHITE LAKE.
OAKLAND COUNTY SHERIFFS AVIATION
FIGHTING.
>> WE LISTEN TO 30 AGENCIES FIRE
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
GOING ON.
>> Reporter: THEY HELP TO
FIGHT FIRES.
>> THE FIREMEN DO NOT OFTEN HAVE
THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING ABLE TO
SEE FROM THE TOP DOWN.
CANNOT ALWAYS ACCESS CERTAIN
AREAS OF A STRUCTURE FIRE.
WHERE WE CAN DO SO SAFELY.
>> Reporter: SO WHAT IS IT
LIKE TO PATROL FROM THE AIR?
THE LOCAL 4 DEFENDERS SPENT A
COUPLE OF DAYS WITH THESE PILOTS
TO SEE FIRSTHAND.
>> TAKE YOU OVER THE LAKE.
YOU CAN SEE WHAT WE CAN SEE
GROUND CAN SEE.
>> Reporter: THAT'S DEPUTY
PILOT PHIL HECKMAN ON ROUTINE
FLIGHT HE GOES 80 O 90 MILES AN
HOUR BUT CAN GO U TO 120.
AGENCIES.
WHEN UP IN THE AIR WE GET A CALL
ON RESIDENTIAL ALARM.
>> WE CAN GET THERE QUICKER THAN
GROUND UNIT BASICALLY GETTING
ALARMS.
STRUCTURES.
>> Reporter: WE ARRIVE AND
FIND IT IS A FALSE ALARM.
WE CHECK OUT A CAR ACCIDENT.
WITHIN MINUTES WE ARRIVE.
>> YOU CAN SEE RIGHT DOWN THERE
AT THE WINDOW.
THE WHITE VAN.
AND THE UNIT BEHIND IT.
CAR CRASHES?
>> COUPLE OF TIMES IN MY CAREER
THAT CAR ACCIDENT, INDIVIDUAL- HAS WARRANTS.
WILL RUN FROM THE SCENE.
>> Reporter: WE ALL KNOW
CHOPPERS PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN
POLICE CHASES.
>> EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
SITUATION.
ESSENTIALLY SOMEBODY DRIVING A
10,000-POUND WEAPON.
AND THE IDEA OF THE AIRBORNE
COMPONENT IS THAT WE CAN HAVE
THE OFFICERS ON THE GROUND SLOW
MAKE IT LESS DYNAMIC.
>> Reporter: NEXT A POSSIBLE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALL.
>> SEVERAL 911 HANG UP CALLS.
FOR BLACK MALE.
DESCRIPTION.
>> Reporter: OFFICERS IN THE
SKY CAN SAVE OFFICERS ON THE
GROUND PRECIOUS TIME IN A SEARCH
LIKE THIS.
IN A MATTER OF MINUTES THEY GET
THE PERSON THEY ARE LOOKING FOR.
>> ANOTHER GUY PUTTING HIM IN
THE VEHICLE.
>> Reporter: SHERIFF SAID
CHOPPER IS INVALUABLE RESOURCE.
>> THERE MAY BE PARADES OR
PROTESTS AND PEOPLE THINK THEY
PROTESTS.
WE ARE WATCHING THEIR SAFETY.
>> Reporter: DREAM CRUISE AND
SUMMERTIME CONCERTS ARE MAJOR
CONCERN FOR CHIEF.
>> WE HAVE A LARGE CROWD OVER A
LARGE AREA SO ONLY HELICOPTER
CAN MAINTAIN THAT VISUAL
PLATFORM.
>> Reporter: PREVENTING CRIME
OAKLAND COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE