LEONARDTOWN, Md. — Two leaders from the Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack recently traded patrol vehicles for a helicopter as part of a training flight with the Maryland State Police Aviation Command.
Lt. Rossignol and First Sgt. Ruth joined the crew of Trooper 7 for a training flight designed to give them a firsthand look at the capabilities and resources available through the Aviation Command.
According to the Leonardtown Barrack, the experience was about more than getting a view from above. The training allowed Rossignol and Ruth to better understand how Trooper 7 can be used during calls for service and how aviation resources can assist troopers on the ground.
During the flight, the two participated in a training scenario involving a search for a simulated downed aircraft. The exercise was followed by a simulated hoist mission on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Rossignol and Ruth also received a demonstration of Trooper 7’s advanced camera and search capabilities and learned more about the ways Aviation Command can support patrol troopers during emergencies and other calls for service.
The Leonardtown Barrack said giving its leadership firsthand experience with specialized resources can help troopers more quickly and efficiently use those resources when they are needed.
“The goal is simple: the more our Troopers understand the resources available to them, the quicker and more efficiently we can put those resources to work when someone needs us,” the barrack said.
Officials said opportunities such as the training flight allow leadership to bring that knowledge back to the barrack, educate personnel and strengthen coordination between patrol troopers and specialized Maryland State Police units.
The Leonardtown Barrack thanked Trooper Bender for coordinating the training opportunity, along with Sgt. Brice, TFC Heneghan and the pilots who hosted the flight and demonstrated Aviation Command’s capabilities.