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[Silvana Fleischacker]

The New York State Police Aviation Unit consists of four stations, with the headquarters located at the Albany International Airport. The stations are strategically located to provide maximum coverage of available aviation resources throughout the state. Other stations are located at Adirondack Regional Airport in Saranac Lake, Stewart International Airport in Newburgh and Greater Rochester International Airport. All stations are staffed with aircrew who provide full-service aerial support for responses to emergencies, as well as large-scale planned events.

The Division's Mountain Bicycle Patrol program began in 1997, when Troop T began providing bike patrols along the New York State Canal Trail System. Each year, the State Canal Corporation has worked with municipalities across the state to open additional sections of trail, with the ultimate goal of having a trail system connecting the state from Albany to Buffalo. Troop D, with financial assistance from local businesses, has provided bike patrols in the Sylvan Beach area and the New York State Fairgrounds since 1997. The Executive Services Detail also began providing bicycle patrols at the Empire State Plaza complex in Albany.

Established in 1972, the NYSP Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) is the second-largest squad of its kind in New York State, exceeded only by the New York City Police Department's Bomb Squad. The BDU is responsible for responding to calls for improvised explosive devices, recovered military ordnance, commercial explosives and fireworks throughout much of the upstate area.

The BDU maintains separate facilities in Albany, Newburgh, Watertown and Batavia. Each facility is equipped with mitigation equipment, such as disposal trailers, robots and hazardous materials (HAZMAT) suits. Each bomb technician carries critical first-responder equipment, including an X-ray device and bomb suits.

All BDU members are trained in the handling of hazardous materials, including chemical and biological agents and provide services to municipalities lacking their own HAZMAT teams. All bomb squad technicians maintain certification through the FBI Hazardous Devices School in Huntsville, Alabama.

The New York State Police Contaminated Crime Scene Emergency Response Team (CCSERT) was created to train and equip members to respond to terrorist actions involving chemical, biological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) material. Along with being prepared to respond to CBRNE incidents, the four regional CCSERT teams are regularly called upon by other law enforcement agencies for their expertise in responding to, and mitigating, various dangerous clandestine drug laboratories. These clan labs include, but are not limited to, methamphetamine, fentanyl, steroids and ecstasy (MDMA).

The New York State Police created the Division Canine Unit in 1975. The three canines were put into service as explosives detection canines in preparation for the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York.

The Unit has grown from those original three teams to its current strength of more than 90. There are currently 29 explosives detection canine teams, 57 narcotic detection teams and four bloodhound teams. The bloodhound teams are utilized exclusively for tracking. Of the 57 narcotics detection teams, 20 are additionally trained in cadaver detection. Nine of the explosives detection canine handlers are also serving on the Bomb Disposal Unit.

In 2000, the Canine Unit found a permanent home in Cooperstown, New York. Through the generosity of philanthropist Jane Forbes Clark and the Clark Foundation, the Canine Unit was provided with a state of the art training facility. The facility is a 10,000 square foot colonial style structure set on approximately 2,000 acres. The facility can accommodate 15 students and staff, and provides a variety of training applications. The facility serves as a command center for the Canine Unit being centrally located in the state, and is open to all police agencies.

During the 20-week training period, a new handler and an untrained canine are teamed together and undergo a strenuous program during which the teams are instructed in: basic obedience, agility, handler protection, either narcotics or explosives detection, tracking, building searches, veterinary first aid, and land navigation - map and compass course. The students are required to pass all aspects of training to receive certification. Upon completion of the Canine Handlers Basic School, the teams are sent out on patrol and receive re-certification bi-annually at the training facility.

The New York State Police Underwater Recovery Team is the oldest and largest public safety dive team in the United States. Operating since 1932, the URT consists of nine full time regional team leaders and 56 on-call divers, distributed across eight Troops in Upstate New York. The NYSP URT regularly provides its specialized services to communities and law enforcement agencies across the state. When not assigned to a dive detail, on-call NYSP divers perform regular patrol and administrative duties.

With more than 20 available boats, including four airboats and high tech underwater electronic search equipment, the URT is able to respond to boat accidents, accidental drownings, flood emergencies, swift water rescues and other water related emergencies.

The New York State Police Marine Detail maintains boat patrols in eight Troops. The detail patrols waterways throughout the state from early spring to late fall, enforcing Navigation Law, Canal Rules & Regulations and Environmental Conservation Laws. Troopers assigned to this detail also assist boaters in distress, provide search and rescue services, along with water security at regattas, hydroplane races and other water-related events.

The New York State Police Motorcycle Unit is a multi-purpose unit trained to assist for any purpose except routine patrol. The unit, re-established in 1997 after a more than 30-year absence, is used to escort visiting dignitaries, provide security at large events like the annual Ironman Competition in Lake Placid, and for policing large crowds or high traffic-volume areas. The motorcycles are capable of negotiating dense traffic, can quickly respond to emergencies and clear the way for emergency equipment in situations inaccessible by troop car.

The Radiological Interdiction Detection program was established to work with federal, state, and local agencies to detect and interdict illicit radioactive material that could potentially be used by terrorists in a dirty bomb or improvised nuclear device. Specially trained New York State Police members carry specialized equipment that can detect all forms of ionizing radiation.

New York State Police members assigned to the detail are certified to instruct the New York State Snowmobile Safety Program, and assist with the instruction of these courses across the state. Snowmobiles can also be used to assist Troopers during inclement weather.

New York State Police have utilized ATVs during searches for missing persons, criminal investigations, to transport personnel to remote crime scenes or search locations and for specialized enforcement efforts. Some NYSP ATVs are equipped with optional tracks which replace the wheels and can be used to get through heavy snow during inclement weather conditions to assist stranded motorists.

The New York State Police Special Operations Response Team (SORT) was created in 1980 to provide a tactical response element for the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. There are currently five regional teams: Capital, North Central, South Central, South and West. The teams train and respond daily, providing their specialized services to communities and law enforcement agencies across the state.

The Unmanned Aerial System can document and help reconstruct serious motor vehicle crashes in less time than with current methods, resulting in shorter road closures, lessening the impact on motorists. Investigators will also use the aerial drones to document and photograph crime scenes. The drones can also be used to search for missing or wanted individuals.

One of the Army units leading the pilot efforts for tactical multinational interoperability is working to advance voice, video and chat to improve how the service collaborates with foreign partners in the Pacific.

Through a series of ongoing exercises, bilateral and trilateral agreements, I Corps is helping the joint force and Army understand how to build a tactical mission partner environment that involves a common operational picture and authenticates users.

Burroughs noted that they began their efforts at the Talisman Sabre exercise last year, enhanced them at another regional exercise dubbed Yama Sakura, and are looking to mature into the fall. Work has been undertaken thus far with Australia, Japan and South Korea.

I Corps is gearing up for a series of engagements in the coming months. The unit just completed a staff exercise last week. In August, it will participate in the Yama Sakura 86 exercise with the Japanese and Australians, serving as a helpful planning event for Yama Sakura 87 in December.

Davison had seen firsthand the devastating effects of a war-ravaged Paris during trips to Europe with his father. While there in 1915, he joined the American Ambulance Field Service, transporting soldiers to hospitals outside Paris, making him a war veteran even before he learned to fly. During this summer, Davison recognized the potential military advantages that a crack air unit could bring to allied troops.

For the young men training in Florida, the hot, humid summer made exercises almost impossible. The unit moved back north to a facility off Huntington Bay, Long Island, where they completed their training and began deployment overseas.

Davison held annual reunions for the First Yale Unit in New York City. At the 50th reunion he was awarded the navy wings he failed to receive at his final training test so many decades ago. A group of Blue Angels flew over the ceremony trailing streams of red, white, and blue smoke, close to the site where the First Yale Unit learned to fly.

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