Florida sheriff's office adds Bell 505 with light EMS capability
The modified helicopter combines law enforcement surveillance equipment with single-patient transport capability for emergency response and SAR missions
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) in the US state of Florida has taken delivery of a mission-configured Bell 505 helicopter equipped for law enforcement operations, search and rescue (SAR), and limited emergency medical transport.
The aircraft, modified by Florida-based Southeast Aerospace (SEA), was unveiled at APSCON 2026 in Fort Lauderdale.
Alongside a package of surveillance and communications systems, the helicopter has been provisioned to operate with a lightweight emergency medical system capable of transporting a single patient.
The Bell 505 has been fitted with electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) imaging, a searchlight, mapping capability, tactical communications equipment, and a video downlink system to support airborne law enforcement and search missions.
The cockpit has also been upgraded for night vision imaging system (NVIS) operations.
For emergency medical response, the aircraft has been prepared to operate with the Med-Pac EMS Lite system under an existing supplemental type certificate (STC). The removable installation replaces the co-pilot and rear passenger seats, allowing the helicopter to carry one patient when required.
While primarily intended for public safety operations, the additional capability enables the sheriff’s office to transport injured officers or civilians during emergencies where a dedicated air ambulance may not be immediately available.
The Bell 505 joins a growing number of light helicopters being adapted for multi-role public safety missions, reflecting a broader trend among law enforcement agencies to combine airborne surveillance, SAR, and limited casualty evacuation within a single platform.
SEA said it had completed modifications to more than 50 aircraft for US law enforcement operators, including state agencies, sheriff’s offices, and federal organizations, with many incorporating mission equipment for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and public safety operations.
Back in 2024, Flagler County acquired a new Airbus H125 helicopter to support emergency missions.