Ivey Commends Aviation Unit For Daring Rescue

By  //  April 23, 2013

A NOTE FROM BREVARD COUNTY SHERIFF WAYNE IVEY

SHERIFF WAYNE IVEY said: "Utilizing STAR 4 that is equipped with pontoons, Chief Coppola landed the helicopter in the water near the victims and Deputy Storey pulled the two juvenile victims out of the water and into the safety of the helicopter. Chief Coppola flew the two juveniles to a landing area where responding deputies were waiting.  STAR 4 then returned to the wreckage area and landed again to rescue the last victim." (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)
SHERIFF WAYNE IVEY said: “Utilizing STAR 4 that is equipped with pontoons, Chief Coppola landed the helicopter in the water near the victims and Deputy Storey pulled the two juvenile victims out of the water and into the safety of the helicopter. Chief Coppola flew the two juveniles to a landing area where responding deputies were waiting. STAR 4 then returned to the wreckage area and landed again to rescue the last victim.” (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

BRIMM IS ‘SHERIFF FOR A DAY’ – SEE STORY BELOW

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – I would personally like to commend the incredible efforts of Chief Pilot John Coppola and Deputy Ron Storey of our Aviation Unit for rescuing three people who were clinging to their sinking boat on Saturday, April 20.

A number of Brevard County Sheriff's Aviation Unit helicopters in the hangar at Merritt Island Airport stand ready for flight to patrol the skies over the Space Coast. (Image by John M. Egan)
A number of Brevard County Sheriff’s Aviation Unit helicopters in the hangar at Merritt Island Airport stand ready for flight to patrol the skies over the Space Coast. (Image by John M. Egan)

The event occurred near the southern end of Lake Winder and followed a 911 call for help after the victim’s boat took on water and sank.

Utilizing STAR 4 that is equipped with pontoons, Chief Coppola landed the helicopter in the water near the victims and Deputy Storey pulled the two juvenile victims out of the water and into the safety of the helicopter. Chief Coppola flew the two juveniles to a landing area where responding deputies were waiting. STAR 4 then returned to the wreckage area and landed again to rescue the last victim.

Without the quick and effective actions of our Aviation Unit the outcome for the boaters could have been met with disaster. I am extremely proud of the job our team did and know that the victims and family greatly appreciate their actions as well.

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Corrections Deputy (CD) Jason Brimm, above right with Sheriff Ivey, was this month's "Sheriff for a Day."
Corrections Deputy (CD) Jason Brimm, above right with Sheriff Ivey, was this month’s “Sheriff for a Day.”

BRIMM IS ‘SHERIFF FOR A DAY’

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of working along side Corrections Deputy (CD) Jason Brimm who was this month’s “Sheriff for a Day.”

In addition to attending numerous meetings during the course of the day, CD Brimm also attended a swearing-in ceremony, filming of a Public Service Announcement, and awarded one of our members her certificate for 25 years of service to our agency.

Thank you Jason for spending the day with me and for everything you do for our agency.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey has been a law enforcement officer for over three decades. Sheriff Ivey is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has a Bachelor’s Degree from Daytona State College in Management and Supervision. Sheriff Ivey’s background in law enforcement is inclusive of Management, Criminal Investigations, Narcotics, Patrol Services, Public Integrity Investigations, and Corrections.

Sheriff Wayne Ivey

Prior to being elected in 2012, Sheriff Ivey served the citizens of the State of Florida as a Resident Agent in Charge for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. As a member of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Sheriff Ivey developed and created the country’s first ever statewide Task Force on Identity Theft. That same year the Task Force was named one of the top five most innovative programs in the country by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and investigated approximately 44 million dollars in fraud cases. Additionally, as a member of FDLE, Sheriff Ivey created the Child Abduction Response Team (C.A.R.T) that re-defined the way Child Abduction cases are conducted throughout the country today. The program was later selected as the most innovative program in the country by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and is now used as a nationwide model in the response and investigation of child abductions.

Sheriff Ivey has testified before the United States Congress on law enforcement related matters and has extensive experience in the area of Public Integrity Investigations. Sheriff Ivey was honored as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Special Agent of the Year (1996) and was also recognized by the Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for his Outstanding Contributions to Criminal Justice. In August of 2011 Sheriff Ivey was honored by the National Organization of Victims Advocacy for his work at the national level as an advocate of victim’s rights and protection.

Sheriff Ivey speaks regularly on topics such as Identity Theft, Crime in America, Human Trafficking, Domestic Violence, and Self Defense through Mental Preparedness. Sheriff Ivey firmly believes that Crime Prevention and Education are vital to reduce our crime rate and protect our community.