CONTACT: Dave Rodgers, (914)-788-7359

FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, Sep 03, 2008

WHO:

Members of the Westchester County Department of Public Safety Aviation Unit, area emergency service and fire officials, and members of the New York Army National Guard.

WHAT:

CORTLANDT MANOR, NY (09/02/2008)-- Westchester County Police Officers will brief local emergency service and police officials on the capabilities of the Westchester County Department of Public Safety's Bell 407 helicopter to local emergency service and police officials at the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs Camp Smith Training Site on Wednesday, Sept. 3. Members of the media are invited to attend. Camp Smith Training Site, the New York National Guard's largest training facility, will host a demonstration and briefing on the Bell 407 emergency services helicopter operated by the Westchester County Department of Public Safety. The helicopter has a forward looking camera that provides night vision and can be down linked to a remote video station, it can carry "Bambi buckets' employed in fire-fighting operations, and is equipped with a rescue hoist. The helicopter can carry two to three individuals in addition to the pilots. Camp Smith is hosting the demonstration because the training facility has helicopter landing zones which could be utilized in a local emergency.

WHEN:

10 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008.

WHERE:

Camp Smith Training Site, Routes 201 and 6 , Cortlandt Manor, NY

In order to obtain access to this secure military facility members of the press must contact Mr. David Rodgers at 914-788-7359. Press cards and a driver's license will be required to access Camp Smith. Cpt. Paul Stasaitis from the Westchester County Police Department will be on hand to answer questions about the Bell 407. Coverage Opportunities: Members of the Westchester County Aviation unit will provide a briefing on the capability of the helicopter at the landing zone. Photographers and TV crews should be able to obtain imagery of the helicopter leaving the landing zone. Members of the Westchester County Police Department and Camp Smith will be on hand to answer questions regarding the capabilities of the helicopter and Camp Smith's use as a helicopter landing zone by law-enforcement and emergency services aircraft. Camp Smith Training Site: Camp Smith is a New York State owned and operated training facility which is controlled by the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs, the state agency responsible for the operations of the New York Army and Air National Guard. The facility was first used by the National Guard in the 1880s and renamed in honor of Governor Al Smith. The facility has several firing ranges, classrooms, barracks, a tactical training area, land navigation course, and buildings employed for urban combat training. Along with the National Guard, the facilities are used by federal and local law enforcement agencies, the all volunteer New York Guard, and United States Army Reserve units. The state is building a new state-of-the-art Armed Forces Readiness Center at Camp Smith. Federal funds are providing the bulk of that cost.