The Stateline Area Could Be Seeing Police Helicopters Overhead In The Near Future

(Winnebago County, Illinois) The Stateline area could soon be seeing a police helicopter providing assistance overhead. The Law Enforcement Aviation Coalition, or L.E.A.C. for short, recently obtained a Vietnam era chopper from the Department of Defense. L.E.A.C. is a not for profit group of retired police officers who are committed to bringing aviation support to law enforcement agencies in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Rob Humphries is a L.E.A.C. pilot and a retired Winnebago County Sheriff`s Department Deputy. He says the new chopper should be ready to fly in less than two months and adds, "It is our hope to provide any air support whether its suspect searches, searches for the elderly or lost children, or air support during drug raids." Rob Humphries adds L.E.A.C. is getting no funding from state or local agencies to fly and maintain their helicopter and they are counting on donations from the community to finance their efforts. Those interested in helping should look for a L.E.A.C. website that will be up and running with information sometime next month.