Westchester County police chopper pilot calls it a career

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Congrats Barry, thank you for your service and best of luck in your retirment!!!!

Westchester County police chopper pilot calls it a career

By SHAWN COHEN

THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original publication: October 19, 2007)

HARRISON - Barry Silverman took his first helicopter ride while serving in the military in the Vietnam War.

The 64-year-old, who has spent the past 12 years flying over Westchester as a founding member of the county police's Aviation Unit, took his final official flight yesterday when he retired from the force.

"That's the last one," he said before taking off. "It hasn't hit me yet. I'm just doing what I normally do, and tomorrow I'll realize it was my last flight."

The Long Island resident completed his Army service in 1969 and later flew helicopters for the National Guard. He joined the county police in 1979 and co-founded the Aviation Unit in 1995.

"Barry was the spark plug that got the Aviation Unit up and running, both literally and figuratively," said Capt. Paul Stasaitis, commanding officer of the Special Operations Division, which oversees the Aviation Unit and other specialized sections of the county police. "His experience was invaluable in launching the unit. He had a great work ethic and was very dedicated to the job. He will really be missed."

Silverman's job, in recent years, has been to fly counterterrorism patrols over sensitive sites such as the Indian Point nuclear power plants, bridges, dams and railroad tracks, and to monitor the Hudson River and Long Island Sound shorelines.

The helicopter also assisted in search-and-rescue missions of lost people in the woods and swimmers or boaters in distress on the waterways. In a July mission, he tracked a wild car chase that started with a shooting in New Jersey, then wound through Westchester and Rockland counties. He reported the car's movement and helped lead police to the arrest.

"I enjoy the missions," Silverman said, but added he also loves having a bird's-eye view of the county. "I just enjoy the freedom you have in flying an aircraft. You get a different perspective on everything. Sometimes you can see 100 miles on a clear day."

He now plans to spend more time with his wife, a retired flight attendant.

"It was time to retire," he said, and quipped, "I'm 64 and I want to spend some of my kid's inheritance before I go to the nursing home."

He hasn't ruled out the possibility of flying again, though.

"The first four or five months, I'm going to kick back and relax," he said. "I assume some time down the road, I'll get the desire to do a little flying again."

[Oswegowind 17]

Good luck Barry! Congrats on retiring...

[Guest Orpi442]

THANK YOU & GOD BLESS

[DOC22 1]

Congrats on your retirement, Barry!!! Good luck!

[CG206 29]

Congrats Barry!!

[fjp326 42]

Good luck Barry, enjoy retirement.....