Kenneth Solosky

Police Aviation

Kenneth J. Solosky retired from the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in 2007 after twenty one years of service as a Lieutenant/Chief Pilot/Director of Training in the Aviation Unit. His other assignments within the police department have included: patrol, patrol sergeant, patrol platoon commander, the Warrant Division and Police Academy instructor. Ken is licensed as a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) in both airplanes & helicopters and is a certified helicopter flight instructor.

Ken has ratings as an advanced ground and instrument ground instructor. Ken is a certified New York State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B) currently serving as an EMT and Commissioner in the Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corps Inc. After retirement from the NYPD, he was appointed the Chief Pilot for the Newark, NJ Police Department Aviation Unit. He flies part-time with “Hoverviews Unlimited”, the premier aerial cinematography company on the east coast of the United States and with a nationally known architectural firm operating a Falcon 10 and Cessna 421 airplane. He also works part-time as an instructor in the North Shore/Long Island Jewish Health System Emergency Management and Corporate Security Departments.

Ken is the founder, president and lead instructor for Code Red Training Inc., an aviation, emergency medical, safety and security training company.

During his assignment to the NYPD Aviation Unit, Ken held the position of Operations Supervisor as a Sergeant, Director of Flight Operations, Director of Training, Integrity Control Officer & Chief Pilot as a Lieutenant.

Ken has taught and lectured domestically and internationally in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada and China on training, counter-terrorism, personnel issues, leadership, and airborne law enforcement operations. In addition, Ken writes monthly columns, titled “Police Airborne Operations” for Officer.com, and “Police Aviation” for LawOfficer.com, two online law enforcement magazines. He is also a regular contributor to the Airborne Law Enforcement Association’s magazine “Airbeat” and “Professional Pilot” magazine. He has also written articles in various law enforcement/emergency response magazines.

Ken has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from St. John’s University in New York and is pursuing his Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice at the City University of New York, John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Ken is an avid musician, having played the drums since he was a young boy. He is proud to have represented the NYPD in musical performances on the “Tonight Show” with Jay Leno, “Good Morning America”, the World Festival of Police Concert Bands in Tokyo, Japan and every major New York City Parade including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Ken is a lifelong resident of Mineola, NY where he resides with his beautiful wife Susan, and their two wonderful sons; Kenneth and Patrick. They serve as the lights of his life.

Contact Ken Solosky

Full list of Kenneth Solosky results

Despite potential, some police UAVs in a holding pattern
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While unmanned aerial system technologies continue to be developed and deployed in places, local and federal regulations keep some departments grounded
The role of police air units in domestic counterterrorism
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Airborne patrols can be discreet — working in more of an observation and detection role — or the patrols can be very active and visible in a deterrence role
Working together with aviation, maritime, and SWAT
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During a complex and changing major incident, the entire specialized unit package must act, think, and work as one in order to succeed
Airplanes are still a vital tool in law enforcement
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Video on the nightly news of police helicopters thundering over a crime scene — often using their night sun to light up an area or search for a suspect — might make people think that the airplane i...
Airborne police struggle with laser threat
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Unfortunately, the threat to aircraft from persons armed with lasers appears to be growing. In addition to commercial and business aircraft being “lasered” numerous law enforcement aircraft have re...
Use air support to run thieves back to you
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The bad guys adjust their tactics and behavior based on reality TV shows, their own “training,” and knowledge of how we operate. A few years back, a major East Coast city was dubbed the “car theft ...
Getting your department’s aviation unit off the ground
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Airborne law enforcement has had tremendous growth over the past twenty years and in the United States alone, there are more than 800 agencies operating law enforcement aircraft. The intuitive and ...
Using air patrol in vehicle pursuits
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When an aircraft becomes involved in a vehicle pursuit, pursuing ground units can fall back and loosely follow the wanted vehicle. The whole objective of using an aircraft is to slow everyone down ...
More than 750 NYPD officers respond via air, sea, land to downed flight
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Ed Note: Police1 Aviation Columnist Kenneth Solosky, a veteran NYPD helicopter pilot in his own right, provides his assessment of the heroic emergency response of police and firefighters to near-mi...
Cop or bad guy? Help them know from the air.
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One of the greatest strengths of law enforcement aircraft is the ability to quickly, effectively, and thoroughly search large areas. Ground units will often pursue a suspect into backyards or woode...
Working with your airborne LE partners
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Today’s police officers certainly have a wide array of assets and support in order to help them complete their job safely and effectively. The long list includes: detectives, SWAT, K-9, marine unit...
A primer on police aviation
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Ed Note: Police1 is pleased to introduce Kenneth J. Solosky as the newest addition to our growing roster of writers. Ken presently serves as Chief Pilot for the Newark (N.J.) Police Department and ...