Detective Royston Charles, who migrated to the U.S. at 13, adopted in his father’s footsteps to hitch legislation enforcement. Now, he serves within the NYPD’s aviation unit, helping floor officers from above.
Picture courtesy Detective Royston Charles
Detective Royston Charles arrived in the USA at 13, pursuing the American dream. Right now, he’s a distinguished member of the New York Police Division’s elite aviation unit, piloting helicopters to help in rescues, apprehensions, and tactical assist operations.
Each private experiences and household legacy impressed Charles’ journey into legislation enforcement. His father was a police officer in Guyana earlier than their migration, and Charles himself was drawn to the alternatives throughout the NYPD. “I all the time needed to do that. My residence was ransacked after I was youthful, and the responding officers have been extremely useful. That have solidified my want to make a distinction,” he mentioned.
He started his profession with the NYPD in 2008 and has since spent 17 years on the pressure, with 11 of these years devoted to the aviation unit. “Being a cop in aviation is like being a cop in a patrol automotive, besides you’re in a helicopter,” Charles defined. “The job is similar — helping officers on the bottom, monitoring suspects, and making certain public security—however with a broader perspective from the sky.”
The aviation unit operates two forms of helicopters: patrol helicopters for land-based operations and air-sea rescue helicopters for water rescues and medical evacuations. “A patrol helicopter may be known as to help in a automotive chase or find a suspect in a yard, whereas an air-sea rescue helicopter is deployed for incidents over water, resembling sinking vessels or medical emergencies on cruise ships,” Charles mentioned.
On a typical day, Charles and his group reply to a number of calls, significantly in the summertime when water rescues enhance. One in all his most memorable missions concerned rescuing a hiker struggling a coronary heart assault on a distant mountain path. “Getting him down would have taken hours, however we airlifted him to a hospital in minutes, saving his life,” he recounted.
One other notable case concerned monitoring a suspect in a stolen automobile. “He noticed the helicopter following him however nonetheless stopped to take footage of us earlier than being apprehended, because of our steering to officers on the bottom,” Charles mentioned with a chuckle.
Whereas his job is rewarding, Charles acknowledges the challenges. NYPD insurance policies concerning automobile pursuits have developed, limiting chases to critical offenses. Regardless of these constraints, Charles stays devoted to his function, making certain security from the skies.
“Serving to individuals is what drives me. Whether or not it’s saving lives or supporting officers on the bottom, I’m happy with our work,” he mentioned.
After 17 years of service, Charles stays captivated with his mission, believing that the NYPD’s aviation unit is “the most effective division within the pressure.”
