Goleta Company Donates Infrared Camera System to Sheriff's Aviation Unit

Flir's $150,000 Gift Imporves Life Saving Abilities

Santa Barbara- April 13th, 2010

The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department has a new tool to help save lives and enhance public safety thanks to the generosity of a high tech company in Goleta.

FLIR Systems Inc. recently donated one of its airborne camera systems to the SBSO’s Aviation Unit. The valuable piece of equipment, which typically sells for well over $100,000, features a dual sensor camera that allows those on board to search for subjects on the ground in daylight and at night. The thermal imaging technology in the new system will improve upon the current infrared camera in Sheriff’s Copter-1.

Sheriff Bill Brown welcomed the gift saying, “FLIR has stepped up in a time when money is tight and we are looking for creative ways to fulfill our mission to protect the public with fewer government resources. We appreciate their generosity.

Earlier today, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors officially accepted the gift from FLIR as required by County policy for any donation in excess of $10,000.

“FLIR has one of its manufacturing facilities in Goleta. This donation benefits both of us. The Sheriff’s Department helps secure the environment that we’re in, and as a local business we want to be supportive of the community,” said FLIR U.S. Sales Manager Brian Spillane

“This newer generation camera will allow us to see even farther at night than before,” said Sr. Deputy George DeLuca, one of the Department’s helicopter pilots. “It will definitely have an impact on our life saving abilities when we work with the Sheriff’s Volunteer Search and Rescue Team to find people who are lost or missing in Santa Barbara’s front and backcountry, not to mention our deputies on the ground when they are searching for a suspect fleeing in the cover of night.”

FLIR Systems, Inc. www.flir.com has been producing thermography and night vision equipment for more than 50 years.  Science, industry, law enforcement and the military make up the bulk of their clientele.

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please contact Drew Sugars, Public Information Officer.

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