DOTHAN – DALE COUNTY: Retired Dale County Sheriff Bryant Mixon and Retired Dale County Chief Deputy Tim McDonald had a vision decades ago. And they implemented that vision. And that was a helicopter unit.
The vision continued through Sheriff Bryant Mixon to Sheriff Wally Olson. Now Sheriff Wally Olson supported the air unit 100% and beyond, but getting Sheriff Wally Olson into the helicopter, well, you could not even use the taser on him to get him to fly. When Chief Deputy Tim McDonald retired during Sheriff Wally Olson tenure Chief McDonald has continued to this day with the air unit. And now Sheriff Mason Bynum shares retired Sheriff Bryant Mixon vision.
When Will Benny became Police Chief of Dothan, Chief Benny supported the vision of the air unit. And that vision has been shared by the City Manager’s under Chief Benny tenure, Dothan Mayor and Commission.
WASP ( Wiregrass Aviation Support Program ) is supported by several communities in the area. Each contributing. And the program has a fixed wing aircraft in the fleet.
At times you have to guess the WASP ( Dothan Police ) helicopter is flying above assisting the ground officers in active patrol over the City of Dothan. They patrol by air and they respond to different calls officers are dispatched flying overhead. They will place the infrared cameras on the ground watching from above reporting to the ground officers what they see. They will follow the suspect in a chase reporting to units on the ground. You might out run the ground black and white, but good luck with the air black and white !!!
They have the ability to put a spot light on the ground to shine overhead on a call or a bad wreck.
Sometimes when you see the helicopter in the air, there is not anything in particular happening. They are on patrol from the air just like the patrol vehicles on the ground. Ready to fly overhead in seconds.
A great asset. And something which keeps the citizens and guests safe.
