The Marion County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit earned an award last week at the 2023 Airborne Public Safety Association National Conference in Orlando.
On Thursday, July 20, Teledyne FLIR’s 28th annual Vision Awards were presented to members of the law enforcement community who have best demonstrated the use of thermal imaging systems in carrying out their missions, whether pursuing suspects, conducting search and rescue efforts, or saving lives.
The MCSO Aviation Unit took second place, and a 2023 Vision Award was presented to Chief Pilot Darren Bruner and Pilot Joseph Jenkins. The award was in recognition of their efforts in helping the Lake County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team locate an armed suspect on December 19, 2019.
In addition to the award, Teledyne FLIR also made a $1,000 donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in memory of Bruner’s mother-in-law, Sue Knudsen.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office congratulated Bruner and Jenkins in a social media post. “Well done, gentlemen, and thank you for your dedicated service to our community and surrounding partners!”