The Georgia State Patrol
Aviation Division
In 1974, the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) Aviation Division (the
“Unit”) was created to provide a law enforcement presence from
the air for the roughly 4.9 million residents of the Peach State.
Colonel Herman Cofer, Commissioner the Georgia Department
of Public Safety at that time, was responsible for literally getting
the unit “into the air” when an advertisement was submitted for
T-41/Cessna 182, the unit was born. Operations were based at
Fulton County/Charlie Brown airport (KFTY) with a Lieutenant
and three pilots. The concept of airborne law enforcement was
relatively new at that time and those tasked with ensuring the
unit’s success had their work cut out for them.
Mission Capability Today
Geographically, Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi
River. The many diverse landscapes that fall within its borders
stem from mountainous terrain in the northern portion, several
20 | January 2019 | Real Hero Report
SWAT Aerial sniper/Bell 407 (Photo by GA State Patrol)