HAI is pleased to announce that Captain Don R. Roby, Baltimore County Police Department, Towson, Maryland, is the recipient of the 2005 MD Helicopters Law Enforcement Award. 

Roby has been a member of the Baltimore County Police Department for the past 25 years. From 1993 to 2001, Roby served as the Aviation Unit Commander.  He led the unit through its transition from the Hughes TH-55A helicopter to the turbine-powered Bell OH-58. Under Roby’s leadership, the unit increased its operating hours from 500 hours per year to over 2,000 hours per year, and its number of personnel, equipment, and aircraft. Currently, Roby is a Captain and precinct commander for the North Point Precinct.

After being transferred from the Aviation Unit Commander post, Roby continued to stay involved in many aviation organizations, doing so on his own time and at his own expense. He is currently the Vice-Chairman of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Aviation Committee, a member of HAI’s Government Services Committee, President of the Mid-Atlantic Helicopter Association, Secretary of the Airborne Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, and serves on the ALEA’s Public Aircraft Issues Committee.  Roby has also actively represented law enforcement at the Defense Logistics Agency, Law Enforcement Support Office, regarding military excess aircraft, parts, aircraft disposal issues, and continued airworthiness matters.

Roby has represented law enforcement aviation on issues concerning public aircraft at the national and international levels.  He has frequently presented at various conferences and seminars, on public aircraft issues and airborne law enforcement issues.  He has been an instructor for the ALEA for the past seven years. He instructs students in the Unit Manager’s Course and various other topics. In addition, he has presented at the International Association of Chiefs of Police International Conference and Exposition.

Roby is truly deserving of the MD Helicopters Law Enforcement Award, because of his dedication and contributions to the aviation law enforcement field. The “Salute to Excellence” awards banquet will take place February 27, 2006, during HELI-EXPO 2006, at the Wyndham Anatole Hotel, in Dallas, Texas.

FMI: www.rotor.com/salute, www.heliexpo.com