Park Police helicopter crew receives awards for actions in DC Navy Yard shootings

Park Police awards
Left to right: ALEA President Kurt Frisz; Pilot Sergeant Kenneth Burchell; Rescue Technician Sergeant David Tolson; and Airbus Helicopters Law Enforcement Market Sales Manager Ed Van Winkle. (Airbus Helicopters sponsors the Gus Crawford Award). Photo provided by Ryan Mason – Airborne Productions, courtesy of the Airborne Law Enforcement Association.

On Friday, July 18th, United States Park Police Pilot Sergeant Kenneth Burchell and Rescue Technician Sergeant David Tolson received the Airborne Law Enforcement Association’s Captain ‘Gus’ Crawford Memorial Aircrew of the Year Award for 2014.

The award acknowledges a pilot and/or crewmember(s) whose flying efforts and proficiency characterize ALEA’s motto, “To Serve and Protect from the Air.”

[The U.S. Park Police is a division within the National Park Service.]

For the nomination period of April 1, 2013 – March 31, 2014, the United States Park Police were nominated twice for flying efforts during the Navy Yard shooting on September 16, 2013.

On that date, a lone gunman entered Building 197 at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, DC, and began shooting people, creating an active shooter incident. As calls for help were received, multiple law enforcement agencies responded.

United States Park Police helicopter Eagle I, crewed by Burchell and Tolson, was asked to assist by the Washington Metropolitan Police Department. The Navy Yard is located directly across the Anacostia River from their hangar, also known as “the Eagle’s Nest.” Tolson in turn asked for additional aircraft due to the possibility of a mass casualty incident.

Due to the proximity of the Washington Navy Yard to Washington/Reagan National Airport, Eagle I notified Washington Tower, which in turn diverted air traffic from the immediate area and designated Eagle I as “air bos,” for aircraft coordination in the Navy Yard area.

On this tragic day, the crew of Eagle I initially assisted with aerial reconnaissance and perimeter control, simultaneously performing air traffic control. The crew then switched roles for the deployment of SWAT personnel and reconfigured for the extraction of a critically injured woman, which resulted in a medevac transport.

The crew returned to bring in another SWAT officer and extract the final three survivors. In the final phase, they returned to reconnaissance and perimeter control. Air operations terminated with a total of 5.5 hours flight time. All of these operations were conducted with an active shooter below them.

For these acts, the Airborne Law Enforcement Association awarded Burchell and Tolson the 2014 Captain “Gus” Crawford Memorial Air Crew of the Year Award. Officer/Rescue Technician Michael Abate was also presented an ALEA Presidential Citation for his roles in the incident.

(From the NPS Morning Report)

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Our original report about the Park Police flight activities during the shooting incident.

More information about the National Park Service’s Park Police fleet of helicopters.

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2 thoughts on “Park Police helicopter crew receives awards for actions in DC Navy Yard shootings”

  1. Chris,

    That is correct. I just finished writing another article on this great operation that actually details that and the Navy Yard incident. The USPP aviation unit are first class people that do an amazing job. Oh, and thanks for the photo credit Fire Aviation 🙂

  2. This is the same unit that made some spectacular rescues after the Air Florida Flight 90 crash in the Potomac.

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