Ohio State Highway Patrol's aviation unit receives big tech upgrade

Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Andy Wilson, and Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendant Col. Charles Jones have announced that enhanced aviation downlink technology is now available to police statewide.

This allows OSP's Aviation Unit to transmit a live feed of video to officers on the ground to help direct and communicate with air units. This technology in Ohio was previously only available to law enforcement in the Columbus and Akron areas.

With the strategic placement of nine downlink receivers, the transmission of aerial video can be done from anywhere across Ohio.

"Before now, local law enforcement relied on the Patrol to describe aerial views via radio, but giving them the ability to see the scene with their own eyes is so much more effective," said Governor DeWine.

It is believed that Ohio is one of two states in the country with the capability of downlinking live aerial video anywhere within its state lines.

The OSP's Aviation Unit responds to more than 1,000 calls for support a year on average for missions such as missing person searches, violent crime reduction initiatives, suspect searches, vehicle pursuit mitigation, and storm damage assessments.

"Many of Ohio's law enforcement agencies, especially in the rural parts of the state, don't have aviation capabilities," said Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Wilson. "This incredible asset provides a valuable resource to help those agencies fight crime and protect the public."

This project was primarily funded through state and federal funding through the Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program.