The civilian positions at the County of Riverside’s Sheriff’s Department now include a pilot for Sheriff’s Department aircraft.
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 on Dec. 3 to approve the creation of the pilot job classification. The pilot will operate single-engine and/or multi-engine fixed-wing or turbine-powered aircraft in support of law enforcement operations but will not have the full range of duties other peace officers have.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has more than 3,600 employees. The department includes the Special Enforcement Bureau which responds to situations involving high-risk apprehensions, high-risk warrant services, fugitive apprehensions, hostage rescues, active shooters, dignitary protection, barricaded subjects, hazardous devices, maritime operations, counterterrorism, off-road enforcement, or other special assignments. The Sheriff’s Department also has an Emergency Operations Division which provides operational, logistical, and emergency support services during routine, extraordinary, or catastrophic incidents and is comprised of the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team and the Sheriff’s Aviation Unit. Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft are used in search and rescue operations and for general patrol.
Currently the Sheriff’s Department aircraft are piloted by licensed sworn deputies, corporals, and one sergeant. The evolving needs of the Sheriff’s Department warranted a reorganization so that a non-sworn pilot can perform those duties. A newly-trained pilot needs at least five years to be signed off on all of the experience requirements required to fly without restrictions, and the creation of the non-sworn pilot position allows sworn staff currently performing those functions the opportunity to focus on their primary essential responsibilities.
The pilot’s duties will include transporting Sheriff’s Department personnel, equipment, inmates, and civilians when needed. The piloting of single-engine or multi-engine fixed-wing aircraft will include search and rescue missions, aerial observation, and the transportation of prisoners and cadavers. The pilot will conduct pre-flight and in-flight assessments to ensure flight safety and will also prepare and maintain aircraft records and flight log information of the assigned aircraft. The responsibilities also include obtaining weather information and interpreting data based on the flight plan. The aircraft will be maintained in a constant state of readiness for dispatch, and the pilot will monitor aircraft systems
including gauges to verify that oil, hydraulic fluid, fuel quantities, and cabin pressure are at the prescribed levels. He or she will operate aviation accessory equipment and perform daily aircraft inspections while also preparing supplemental reports for the Federal Aviation Administration or other agencies governing civil aircraft movements and ensuring compliance with Federal and state regulations and county departmental policies and procedures.
In addition to having the necessary pilot’s license and ratings, the position has experience requirements of at least 1,000 hours of total fixed-wing flight time, 1,500 total hours of pilot in command time, 500 hours of turbine-powered aircraft time, and 250 hours of instrument flight time.
The counties of San Bernardino, Kern, and Ventura have pilot positions and a market survey was used to determine the salary range for the County of Riverside pilot. The initial annual salary range will be $98,086 to $126,921.
Joe Naiman can be reached at jnaiman@reedermedia.com.
