Two Medical Flights Crash Within 24 Hours

For scanner hobbyist, they are know as; "Air-Ambulance", "Air-Squad", "AirMed", "Airlife", "LifeFlight", "Starflight", "MedEvac", "CareFlite" and others.

They are most often a signs that someone has suffered traumatic injuries and requires immediate transport to an area trauma center.

LACoFD's Copter 11 Air Squad

From Wikipedia: An air ambulance is an aircraft used for emergency medical assistance in situations where either a traditional ambulance cannot reach the scene easily or quickly enough, or the patient needs to be transported over a distance or terrain that makes air transportation the most practical transport.

There have been two medical transport flight crashes within 24-hours.

Medical Transort Helicopter Goes Down in OK

In the first crash, a medical helicopter on its way to pick up a patient crashed in a secluded field in central Oklahoma late Thursday, killing the pilot and a nurse and left a paramedic seriously injured. The helicopter was en route from Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City to a hospital about 90 miles away in Okeene when it went down about 8 p.m. near Kingfisher, OK.

Pilot Al Harrison and nurse Ryan Duke died in the crash, according to a Friday statement by EagleMed LLC, the Wichita, Kan.-based company that operates the A-Star 350 helicopter such as the one pictured here. Michael Eccard, a paramedic and the lone survivor, was about 50 yards from the crash site and, ironically, was air-lifted to a trauma center. He is listed in serious condition. (Read full story or Watch video of crash scene)

Medical Transport Plane Goes Down in MI

In the second crash early this morning, the U.S. Coast Guard is searching searching lake Michigan right now for four people who were riding on a medical transport plane, when it went down into the water near Ludington Michigan, at about 10am central time today.

A fifth person was rescued by a "good samaritan". The one person who was rescued is suffering from mild hypothermia.

This story is still developing. Read full story and updates.

Related Links of Interest

• Wikipedia: History of Air Ambulance
• Photos: "Air Squad"

That's all for now, till next time, stay safe.

Got a comment about this post? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

-Ruben Flores
Bloghost & Webmaster @ Police-Scanner.info

If you enjoy reading my blog, buy me a beer. (Suggested: $3 a beer or $7.5 for a pitcher)

3rd Chicago Police Officer Killed in 2 Months

Having several family members and friends in law enforcement, it is always an uneasy feeling when I read about an officer killed in the line of duty.

Tragedy in the Windy City

More tragic news in the law enforcement community. This time in Chicago as another Chicago Police Officer is Killed, the 3rd officer killed in 2 Months.

Twenty-year Chicago police veteran Michael Bailey (EOW: Sunday, July 18, 2010) was shot and killed outside his home early Sunday morning, just one month before turning 63, the mandatory retirement age for Chicago police.

Officer Bailey had just returned home from a mayoral protection detail, and was still in uniform, when as many as three male subjects approached and attempted to rob him of his new vehicle, which he bought himself as an early retirement gift.

He identified himself and exchanged shots with the suspects, who all fled the scene and remain at large. Police say as many as three suspects opened fire on the officer during the altercation. Officer Bailey is survived by his wife, son and two daughters.

Chicago's Other Fallen Heroes

Officer Bailey is the third Chicago officer killed in the line of duty in the past two months. The other two officers are:

+ Police Officer Thor Soderberg, 43
EOW: Wednesday, July 7, 2010 - Cause of Death: Gunfire

Officer Soderberg was killed with his own weapon on July 7 outside a police building on the south side. Officer Soderberg was returning to his vehicle at the end of his shift when he struggled with a male subject who approached from behind and was able to gain control of his service weapon, fatally shooting him in the face, head and back.

The suspect was later seriously wounded in a shootout with police and has been charged with murder. Officer Soderberg is survived by his wife, four siblings and parents.

+ Police Officer Thomas Wortham IV, 30
EOW: Thursday, May 20, 2010 - Cause of Death: Gunfire

Officer Wortham was shot and killed on May 19 after identifying himself as a police officer when four subjects attempted to rob him while he was outside his parents' house. Officer Wortham drew his service weapon and fired at the suspects, but was fatally shot in the abdomen.

His father, a retired Chicago police sergeant, witnessed the shooting and exchanged shots with the suspects. One was killed, another was seriously wounded while the two remaining males fled in a vehicle. All three suspects have been charged with first-degree murder. Officer Wortham is survived by his sister and parents.

Chicago Police By the Numbers

• There are 13, 400 Sworn Officers in the Department (as of 2008)
• Since it's formation in 1855, there have bee 511 police officers killed in the line of duty.
• The three most common causes of line of duty deaths are: Gunfire (374); Automobile/Motorcycle Accidents (38); Vehicular Assault/Struck by Vehicle (18).
• 1931 was the deadliest year for the Chicago Police Department with 16 officers killed in the line of duty.

Related Links of Interest

• Chicago Police Department Official Website
• Chicago Police Department Wikipedia Page
• ChicagoCop.com
• ODMP (Officer Down Memorial Page)
• 'No one knows the pain' of slain police officers' families

That's all for now, till next time, stay safe.

Got a comment about this post? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

-Ruben Flores
Bloghost & Webmaster @ Police-Scanner.info

If you enjoy reading my blog, buy me a beer. (Suggested: $3 a beer or $7.5 for a pitcher)

Police Scanners and the Law

It has been a long held belief that owning and using a police scanner is illegal.

The truth is that owning and using a scanner for use in your own home is legal, however, there are some things that are illegal to do with a scanner.

Scanner Monitoring Laws

Law regulating the use of radio scanners are enforced by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) and spelled out in the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (ECPA).

Below are some of the more important laws regulating usage:

• It is illegal to listen in on cellular and cordless phone calls.
• It is illegal to intercept encrypted or scrambled communications.
• It is illegal for scanner manufacturers to sell or import radio scanners that are capable of receiving cellular phone frequencies. (Note: This rule does not apply to sales by individuals and radio scanners made before 1985).
• It is illegal to modify radio scanners so that cellular phone frequencies can be received.
• It is illegal to use information you hear for personal gain. A common example is where a taxi driver listens to a competitor's dispatch channel for fare pick-ups and then races over and picks-up the fares.
• It is illegal to use information you hear to aid in the commission of a crime.
• It is illegal to disclose information you hear to other persons.

A full text copy of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 can be found here.

In addition to Federal laws, local restrictions may apply and vary from state to state. For example, a few states require a permit or FCC amateur license for mobile scanner usage. See links below for more information on scanning laws for your area.

The Bottom Line

It may sound complicated, but don’t worry, if you are a law-abiding citizen and are not a convicted felon, there you should not have a problem using a scanner, even for mobile use.

As you may know, I never go anywhere without my scanner and I have been pulled over several times over the last twenty-something years and have never had a problem.

Most officers were amused by my scanner and one even asked where he could get one.  (Got a related story? Share it in the comments section) 

Scanning Law Resources

The following resources listed below contain further information where you can learn more about scanning laws that may apply in your state.

• Scanning Reference: Laws, Rules, & Regulations - Link index to scanning law pages for various states.
• Mobile Scanner & Radar Detector Laws in US - Great site! Lots of info here.
• American Law Sources Online - Can’t find scanning law resources for your state? Try searching for it yourself at LawSource.com.

Got a comment about this post, share your thoughts about this post in the comments section. That's all for now, till next time, stay safe.

-Ruben Flores
Bloghost & Webmaster @ Police-Scanner.info

If you enjoy reading my blog posts, buy me a beer. (Suggested: $3 a beer or $7.5 for a pitcher)

Deadly Month for California Highway Patrol

Five California Highway Patrol Officers were killed in the line of duty in less than two months in separate fatal accidents.

Four officers were killed in the month of June alone, two of those were struck and killed on the same day miles apart while standing along roadsides.

This is yet another grim reminder of the dangers that law enforcement officers face everyday on the job.

California Highway Patrol Fallen Heroes: 
(Click on an officer's name to view their Officer Down Memorial Page)

+ CHP Officer Brett Oswald - San Luis Obispo, CA
EOW: June 27, 2010 - Officer Brett Oswald was killed when he was struck by a vehicle at the scene of an abandoned vehicle. The suspect was arrested and charged with felony vehicular manslaughter and driving with a suspended license. Officer Oswald is survived by his wife.

+ CHP Officer Justin McGrory - Barstow, CA
EOW: Sunday, June 27, 2010 - Officer Justin McGrory was struck and killed by a drunk driver while conducting a field sobriety test on I-15 in Barstow at 3:38 am. The suspect was arrested and charged with felony vehicular manslaughter. Officer McGrory is survived by his expectant wife and three small children.

+ CHP Officer Philip Ortiz - West Los Angeles, CA
EOW: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - Officer Philip Ortiz succumbed to injuries sustained two weeks earlier when he was struck by a vehicle on I-405 in West Los Angeles while issuing a traffic citation to a driver. Office Ortiz is survived by his wife.

+ CHP Officer Thomas Philip Coleman - Redlands, CA
EOW: Friday, June 11, 2010 - Officer Thomas Coleman was killed in a motorcycle accident when his motorcycle collided with a semitrailer while pursuing a traffic violator he was attempting to stop in Redlands. The suspect was arrested and charged with felony vehicular manslaughter. Officer Coleman is survived by his wife, 2-year-old son, 8-month-old daughter.

+ CHP Pilot Officer Danny Benavides - Brawley, CA
EOW: Friday, May 7, 2010 - Officer Daniel Benavides was killed in a plane crash while patroling in Imperial County. He is survived by his wife and their 9 year old daughter.
 
CHP Line Of Duty Deaths by the Numbers

• Since its formation in 1929, 224 CHP Officers have been killed in the line of duty (as of July 7, 2010).
• The three most common causes of line of duty deaths to date are: Automobile/Motorcycle Accidents (94); Vehicular Assault/Struck by Vehicle (47); and Gunfire (44). 
• 1964 was the deadliest year for the CHP with 8 officers dying in the line of duty. 

Related Links of Interest

• California Highway Patrol (CHP) Website
• ODMP (Officer Down Memorial Page)
• Google News Results on the above incidents  

That's all for now, till next time, stay safe.

-Ruben Flores
Bloghost & Webmaster @ Police-Scanner.info

If you enjoy reading my blog posts, buy me a beer. (Suggested: $3 a beer or $7.5 for a pitcher)