Volunteer Pilots Donate 1,000+ Flights to Help Spokane Police

When someone goes missing in Spokane County, Washington, retired pilots like Sam Pierce take to the skies without asking for a dime.

About 10 volunteer helicopter pilots donate their time to fly missions for the Spokane County Sheriff's Office, patrolling weekend nights and helping deputies track suspects, find lost hikers, and respond to domestic violence calls. These aren't hobbyists. They're experienced aviators, many with military or air ambulance backgrounds, who've been answering their phones on holidays and in bad weather for up to 20 years.

The program started in 2005 when the Army donated a surplus helicopter to Spokane County. Today, the unit operates three helicopters equipped with infrared cameras, searchlights, and GPS systems that let ground officers watch live footage from above.

The impact is measured in lives protected and dangers avoided. Last year, the volunteer pilots responded to 1,098 law enforcement calls, 37 search and rescue missions, and helped make 274 arrests possible.

"If we can get the helicopter on scene quickly, officers can stop pursuing," said Cpl. Jeff Welton, who flies alongside the volunteers. That matters because high-speed car chases put everyone on the road at risk. When a helicopter can track a suspect from above, patrol cars can back off and let the aircraft guide them safely.

Pierce, who flew combat rescue missions for 27 years with the Air Force, volunteers several times each month. "You're making a difference on a daily basis," he said. The unit proved critical during the largest manhunt in nearby Chelan County's history, helping locate key evidence that led investigators to Travis Decker, who was wanted for kidnapping and murdering his three daughters.

The Ripple Effect

The volunteer program saves taxpayers money while expanding what law enforcement can accomplish. Fuel costs about $250 per hour, covered partly by homeland security grants, but the pilot expertise comes free. Police Chief Dave Ellis notes the program also helps other agencies. County helicopters assisted Seattle during the World Cup, funded through federal grants.

The helicopters don't just chase bad guys. They find lost children, rescue injured hikers using internal hoists, assess wildfire damage, and provide backup when officers arrive alone at dangerous scenes. "We can get there quicker than anybody else from the air," Pierce said. "We can see more than they can see sometimes."

These pilots could spend their retirement anywhere, doing anything. Instead, they're choosing to serve their community from 1,000 feet up, one volunteer flight at a time.