Two officers down in Atlanta PD Helicopter crash

Comes at a very bad time, right on the heels of FAA publishing a need for increased vigilance in helicopter operations after multiple fatalities.
 
Officers names released yesterday afternoon - Richard J. Halford, 48, and Shawn A. Smiley, 40. Too young... RIP

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Halford, of Lithia Springs, joined the APD in May 1986. He had been with the air unit for more than 16 years, serving as a pilot. Halford also has served in APD’s Zone 4 precinct, the motors and DUI units. He is survived by his former wife, and a 21-year-old daughter, according to Atlanta police officials.

Smiley, of Lithonia, joined the APD in October 2010. He joined the air unit earlier this year, serving as a tactical flight officer. He also served in the Department’s Zone 2 precinct. He is survived by his wife and three children, ages 5, 7, and 9.
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Heard a sound-bite this morning on the radio - reporter talking with the mother of the runaway boy they were looking for. She was completely distraught - thinks it's her fault.

The good news is they found the boy unharmed. Apparently, he ran away after they argued about his being "expelled from school"(quote from the radio report). Expelled at 9 years old?? :(

Some talk about the helo hitting power lines. It would have to have been pretty low to hit lines in that area. I'm guessing that might be more "effect" than "cause".
 
Sad deal..... And looking for a 9 year old that ran away because he was expelled from school... We lost two LEO's because of some scumbag kid..:sad::sad::nono:....
 
Wow... so a kid running away caused a pilot to not maintain clearance with obstructions?

What if he was a kidnap victim and the pilot still flew into an obstruction... would that change your outlook? Its an accident. Accidents unfortunately happen.

SMDH...
 
Doggtyred said:
Wow.......

What if he was a kidnap victim and the pilot still flew into an obstruction... would that change your outlook?
SMDH...
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Yup..





An accident that claims the lives of LEO's is part of the job they signed up to do.. Too bad they didn't inform the two officers that died that they were looking for a 9 year old punk....................... who lived..:mad: The kids mom should be arrested ..:yes:
 
It's a pretty sad person who gives up on 9 year-olds and calls them scumbags and punks.
 
Not sure this is the right place to get into the discussion about kids, parents and the broken school systems. Makes no difference what they were looking for, something went wrong, people were lost.
 
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