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February 9, 1996
Donated aircraft to improve surveillance capabilities
The Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office will increase its aerial surveillance capabilities when a 1964 Cessna 210 Centurion donated to the law enforcement agency is reconditioned.
Given to the Sheriff's Office by a citizen who wishes to remain anonymous, the single-engine aircraft had been used a total of 304.8 hours and had been stored for 18 years in a hanger at Shreveport Regional Airport. The Sheriff's Office Aviation Division is currently restoring the aircraft and modernizing its radio and navigation equipment.
When operational, the aircraft will also be capable of serving as an emergency airborne repeater station for the Sheriff's Office communications system. Moreover, the radio equipment will allow Sheriff's Office personnel to talk with any other agency and set up a communications relay between two agencies in emergencies.
The Cessna 210, a versatile retractable-gear, high-wing aircraft, has a 190-mph cruise speed with excellent low-speed characteristics.
With nearly 900 square miles, Caddo Parish extends about 53 miles from the Arkansas line to the DeSoto and Red River Parish lines, and 12 to 32 miles from the Texas line to the Red River. The Cessna 210 will give the Aviation Division a response time of about 10 minutes from takeoff at Shreveport Regional to anywhere in the parish.
Aerial surveillance is currently done in an M-5 Maule, an aircraft the Sheriff's Office has operated since 1985. When the Cessna 210 is operational, the Maule will be sold to defray reconditioning costs for the Cessna.
The aircraft can also be used for personnel and prisoner transport.