MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – Cue the music… “Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you? Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do?
Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?”
TV viewers know that’s the theme song to the popular reality series COPS that gave viewers a gritty look of police work as cameras went along for the ride with law enforcement on patrol across the U.S. Episodes often times showed agencies busting bad guys, but segments also showed the strange things men and women in blue encounter; as well as the soft side of what they do to help people in crisis.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) was featured twice during seasons 32 and 33 of COPS.
Now the agency is about to be back in the spotlight in an all-new reality series called CHOPPER COPS.
“Air-One can you help us out?”
That’s the opening line to the trailer for the streaming docuseries which premieres on Paramount+ on Tuesday, June 18.
The trailer features heart-pumping music, exciting aerial footage and compelling interview clips with members of MCSO’s aviation team.
You may have seen posts about the new show on the sheriff’s office’s Facebook page.
“We have the eyes in the sky that can see in the dark. If they are going to run at night, we won’t lose them,” says an MCSO Air-One member in the promotional video.
There are ten 30-minute episodes showcasing Marion County’s tools, technology and team.
The production crew embedded with the aviation unit for 114 days from March through October 2023.
A spokesperson for the production company says they set up a compound at the Ocala International Airport with seven semi-trailers, temporary workspaces, and enough gear and equipment to match the 24/7 operations schedule of the MCSO Aviation Unit.
|WATCH: CHOPPER COPS OFFICIAL TRAILER
W. Hulsey Smith is the executive producer for the series and spent over 20 years in the aerospace and defense industry. According to V1 Productions, much of that time was spent working in special mission operations where he led teams in six of the seven continents of the world.
The producers say when Hulsey started looking for an aviation unit to be the center of the new television series, he called various world class experts in helicopter maintenance and MCSO’s aviation unit was recommended.
V1 mobilized a team to scout them out.
“After talking with Major Standridge and Darren Bruner (the aviation unit commander), seeing the aircrafts, and witnessing MCSO air operations first-hand, it was clear that the MCSO unit is elite,” said Smith. “The MCSO Aviation Unit is dedicated to safety, training, and demands nothing less than the best aircraft maintenance. Anything less, and we would have chosen another unit.”
At 352today, we’ve reported on some of the calls MCSO’s aviation unit has handled. In May, Air-One launched in response to calls about fires being set in the Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area. Deputies in the air used night vision and infrared technology to assist units on the ground to apprehend a man suspected of starting the fires.
The production crew went along on cases just like this. After spending nearly four months with the team, they say they developed a new appreciation for what law enforcement face in the field.
“The deputies in this aviation unit actually care. It’s not just a job – it’s a calling,” said Smith. “We have seen them cry after a heart-breaking mission. We have seen them celebrate when a life is saved. We have shared many a meal with them. They are humans – not robots. They are everyday heroes, and while they work often in the shadows while never seeking credit or accolades, they earn the right to be appreciated every time they suit up and take off on mission.”
In case you’re wondering, neither the department nor the members of the unit received any compensation for their participation in the program.
The story changes when a production company pays for access.
“As filmmakers, we don’t normally get to capture the authentically true story of those we steady our lens upon,” said Smith. “In Chopper Cops, what you will see in the series is real, unadulterated, and completely authentic to the ethos of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. You only get that level of truth when you have a real relationship with the men and women in front the camera. Every single member of the V1 Productions team that produced this series left Ocala with a fresh perspective on heroism. These deputies risk it all almost every single day to protect, serve, and save people in their community. After witnessing that first-hand, we will carry those experiences with us for the rest of our life.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: The producers are hosting an invitation-only, red-carpet premiere for the show this Sunday, June 16, in Ocala. The author of this story is one of a few media members invited to attend the event. The event is not open to the public.
