The DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office has partnered with the Shreveport Police Department and the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office to put a new law enforcement helicopter in the skies over Northwest Louisiana.

The aircraft — a 1969 Kiowa 58 acquired from the Louisiana State Police for $15,000 and fully restored with modern equipment — is based in Stonewall and represents a significant upgrade in the sheriff’s office’s aerial capabilities. The helicopter is equipped with FLIR (Forward-Looking Infrared) thermal imaging technology and a long-range camera system capable of real-time surveillance. Sheriff Jayson Richardson noted that departing from near Mansfield, the crew could already see downtown Shreveport high-rises on the camera system.

Richardson said the aircraft can remain airborne for two to three hours at a time — a major improvement over drones, which are limited by battery life and altitude. The sheriff’s office has operated helicopters for roughly 13 years, beginning with its first aircraft in 2012.

Richardson said the partnership benefits DeSoto Parish residents directly. “A better Shreveport and a safer Shreveport is a safer DeSoto Parish,” he said, noting that many parish residents travel, shop, and work in Shreveport.

Crime Stoppers has established a separate fund to help cover fuel and maintenance costs for the aircraft, with a fundraising goal of $50,000 for the year. Fuel alone runs more than $100 per hour.

Sources: DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office; Shreveport Police Department