Home

Teledyne FLIR Defense Announces Winners of 30th Annual FLIR Vision Awards for Airborne Law Enforcement at APSCON Conference

via Business Wire

Event honors police aviation crews across America for use of thermal imaging systems in search and rescue, high-speed pursuit, and other lifesaving missions;

Winning agencies from California, Florida, Maryland, Michigan and Texas

Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY), announced the winners of the 30th Annual ‘FLIR Vision Awards’ at the APSCON 2025 Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250718043502/en/

Teledyne FLIR Defense announced the winners of the 30th Annual ‘FLIR Vision Awards’ last night at the APSCON 2025 Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. The FLIR Vision Awards are presented to members of the airborne law enforcement community who have best demonstrated use of thermal imaging systems in carrying out their missions, whether conducting search and rescue efforts, pursuing suspects, or saving lives in other ways. The awards are divided into four categories, including the FANG Award for operations involving a K-9 support team. This year's winning police aviation crews were from California, Florida, Maryland, Michigan and Texas.

Teledyne FLIR Defense announced the winners of the 30th Annual ‘FLIR Vision Awards’ last night at the APSCON 2025 Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. The FLIR Vision Awards are presented to members of the airborne law enforcement community who have best demonstrated use of thermal imaging systems in carrying out their missions, whether conducting search and rescue efforts, pursuing suspects, or saving lives in other ways. The awards are divided into four categories, including the FANG Award for operations involving a K-9 support team. This year's winning police aviation crews were from California, Florida, Maryland, Michigan and Texas.

The FLIR Vision Awards are presented to members of the airborne law enforcement community who have best demonstrated use of thermal imaging systems in carrying out their missions, whether conducting search and rescue efforts, pursuing suspects, or saving lives in other ways. The awards are divided into four categories, including the FANG Award for operations involving a K-9 support team.

This year’s winners are …

Vision Award: First Place

Marion County Sheriff’s Office (FL)

Command Pilot Craig Kinsey; Master Sergeant John Rawls

Vision Award: Second Place

Riverside County Sheriff’s Office (CA)

Sheriff Corporal Jerry Osterloh; Deputy Sheriff Jake Fink

Vision Award: Third Place

Houston Police Department

Senior Police Officer Ismael Rodriguez; Senior Police Officer Jose Guzman

Life Saver Awards

Prince George's County Police Department (MD)

Mr. Bo Corser; Corporal Christopher Elrod

Michigan State Police

Sergeant Cole Martin; Trooper Brandon Franklin

Pursuit Award

Houston Police Department

Senior Police Officer Chris Thompson; Officer David Kassir

FANG Award

Tampa Police Aviation

Flight Officer Brian Alofs; Tactical Flight Officer Rob Williams

Officer Joshua Yungaitis; K-9: Sly

“For three decades, we have recognized and honored the work performed by the men and women in law enforcement who keep our communities safe,” said Dr. JihFen Lei, president of Teledyne FLIR Defense. “The FLIR Vision Awards highlight the heroic efforts of police aviation crews worldwide for whom thermal imagery systems play an integral part in successfully performing their missions.

“We salute their commitment to public safety and congratulate the winners, and all entrants, on a job well done,” Lei added.

Teledyne FLIR has presented the FLIR Vision Awards and sponsored the APSCON conference for more than 25 years. A panel of judges nominate finalists and choose the winners based on several criteria, including:

  • Crew Coordination – how well did the aircrew communicate and manage the incident, both inside the cockpit and with ground officers?
  • Technical Competence – skill-level shown around search techniques, anticipating suspect behavior, focus under pressure, and operating imaging systems.
  • The “FLIR Factor” – how instrumental were Teledyne FLIR thermal cameras in completing the mission?

Visit us online to learn more about Teledyne FLIR’s Surveillance and imaging solutions for airborne, land and maritime applications.

About Teledyne FLIR Defense

Teledyne FLIR Defense has been providing advanced, mission-critical technology and systems for more than 45 years. Our products are on the frontlines of the world’s most pressing military, security and public safety challenges. As a global leader in thermal imaging, we design and build sophisticated surveillance sensors for air, land and maritime use. We develop the most rugged, trusted unmanned air and ground platforms, as well as intelligent sensing devices used to detect chemicals, biological agents, radiation and explosives. At Teledyne FLIR Defense we bring together this expertise to deliver solutions that enable critical decisions and keep our world safe – from any threat, anywhere. To learn more, visit us online or follow @flir and @flir_defense.

About Teledyne Technologies

Teledyne Technologies is a leading provider of sophisticated digital imaging products and software, instrumentation, aerospace and defense electronics, and engineered systems. Teledyne's operations are primarily located in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Western and Northern Europe. For more information, visit Teledyne's website at www.teledyne.com.

“For 30 years, we've recognized the work of men and women in law enforcement who keep our communities safe. The FLIR Vision Awards highlight the heroic efforts of police aviation crews worldwide for whom thermal imagery systems play a key part in success."

Contacts