PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT:
Thursday, May 13, 2010 PIO Lt. Edward Ormonde
Office: (209) 599-0259
eormonde@cityofripon.org
RIPON AVIATION UNIT HELPS COMBAT DAYLIGHT BURGLARIES
The Ripon Police Department announced today, that in the first ten months of operation, their Aviation Unit, working in
coordination with ground based patrol operations, has reduced daylight burglaries by 64%, from the same time period a
year ago.
In July of 2009, the Ripon Police Department was the only police department in California to implement a powered
parachute aviation program. The department received the aircraft for free, as part of an ongoing program sponsored by
the U.S. Department of Justice, looking into the viability of powered parachutes being utilized by small and rural law
enforcement agencies on a national level.
The Ripon Police Department, Aviation Unit has been conducting high visibility, neighborhood patrols, in areas
experiencing daylight burglaries. On several occasions, the powered parachute pilots have been able to quickly locate
suspicious persons in residential areas, and relay the information to responding officers on the ground. “Based on
comments provided to officers by suspects being contacted, I believe that the aviation program has been a great
deterrent in helping keep the criminal element out of our city”, said Lt. Ed Ormonde.Ripon's aviation program has been
highly successful. The powered parachute has been utilized in rescue situations, as well as in the apprehension of
criminal suspects.
The Aviation Unit has provided aerial security for public events, and has successfully flown crime scene and collision
scene photographic missions. The aircraft is utilized routinely to fly critical infrastructure, crime suppression, and patrol
support missions. When called upon, the aircraft has the capability of being prepped and in the air to aid ground based
personnel in a matter of minutes.
For further information contact
Lieutenant Ed Ormonde
Patrol Operations Supervisor
259 N. Wilma Ave.
Ripon, Ca. 95366
Business: (209) 599-2102
Desk: (209) 599-0259
Fax: (209) 599-4034
Email: eormonde@cityofripon.org
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