STARR-1: Sheriff's Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Rescue - 1

Since 1997, Bristow Academy has operated the Contra Costa County Sheriff helicopter. A fully-equipped Bell 407, the helicopter flies five nights a week while remaining on call 24 hours a day.

Bristow Academy's hometown, Concord, California, is located in Contra Costa County, a large county encompassing 720 square miles in the Northeast corner of the San Francisco Bay Area.. The need for an air support unit become obvious as the county's population grew.

Bristow Academy President Patrick Corr and Contra Costa County Sheriff Warren Rupf worked together for five years, slowly developing and working through the logistics of establishing an air support model. The sheriff wanted a highly capable unit, new equipment rather than military surplus, proper law enforcement gear onboard, and experienced pilots.

The county purchased a Bell 407 and in March 1997 it went into service with Bristow Academy operating the helicopter and Corr, Gordy Cox and Kevin Iacovoni as its three pilots. Adrian Strutz joined the team in 1998, replacing Cox.

Equipped with a Wescam infrared day and night color camera, a Spectra Lab SX16 50 million candle power searchlight, a PA system and siren, STARR-1's nights usually start off with routine patrol. Manned by one civilian pilot and a sworn officer observer, it remains airborne an average of five hours a night responding to calls around the county.

STARR-2

In 2005 the program received a new addition – a Bell 206 BIII JetRanger, call sign STARR-2. The JetRanger, which is slightly smaller than the Bell 407 is used primarily for patrol duties. Most of the time only one aircraft is in the air, but having 2 available greatly increases the Sheriff’s ability to support the deputies on the ground and respond to major incidents. Like STARR-1 Bristow Academy provides the pilots, maintenance, and support for STARR-2.