Seguin High School students Collin Goulart and Colton Jenkins take a closer look at the Department of Public Safety helicopter that landed in the school's soccer field Friday. Trooper Cody Klaehn and Sgt. Jeff Fisher made a visit to the campus to talk about safety on the roads and careers in law enforcement.
If Department of Public Safety Trooper Cody Klaehn had showed up in uniform, it would have been enough.
But instead, Klaehn and Sgt. Jeff Fisher arrived at Seguin High School in grand style Friday, landing a DPS helicopter on the soccer field.
"I just asked him to speak to my class for career day, and he showed up in a helicopter," said Klaehn's cousin, senior Cambry Koenen. "It was a very neat thing."
Klaehn's family; along with Koenen; his niece, sophomore Shaelynn Scott; and neighbor, ag teacher David Reiley; joined the crowd that clustered around the field watching the helicopter land just after noon.
As Fisher and Klaehn emerged, students and teachers made their way closer to the American Eurocopter twin engine EC145, eager for a look inside.
"That was really something you don't get to see very often, it was very cool," said sophomore Lori Garriott. "It was smaller than I thought on the inside, a lot like a van."
Reiley said he and Koenen had both asked Klaehn, a Geronimo resident, for a classroom visit and were thrilled that he and Fisher were able to come by. The troopers are part of the Aircraft Section, flying helicopters and planes for rescues and specific missions.
He said DPS requires that those interested in areas like the Aircraft Section first work four or more years as troopers on the road. Afterward, they are able to apply to special areas.
"I love to fly, it's what I've always wanted to do," Fisher said.
The section supports DPS and other law enforcement in pursuits, manhunts, search and rescue, disaster relief, border security operations and many other tasks.
The section runs a fleet of 15 American Eurocopter AS350 helicopters, one American Eurocopter EC145 twin engine helicopter, seven single engine Cessna airplanes, and a twin engine Aero Commander airplane. All DPS pilots hold commercial pilot licenses with instrument ratings, and receive recurrent pilot training annually. They are also certified in night vision goggle flight operations.
Klaehn said he found the Aircraft Section in a more roundabout way. He joined DPS after serving in the Marine Corps and moved to the Aircraft Section only a few months ago from SWAT.
He is now one of 15 tactical flight officers on a team including 46 pilots, seven lieutenants, a captain, assistant chief pilot and chief pilot.
"I love it, it's a great job," Klaehn said.
Fisher and Klaehn let classes check out the helicopter, and also showed a short video about DPS and discussed safety on the road.
Reiley said he enjoys having professionals with different and exciting careers come to visit his students. The class has a regular career day, which Reiley hopes will inspire students to pursue further education and training after high school.
"We're really thrilled that they could be here to make students aware of what they do and their training," he said. "It's just another chance for students to hear about opportunities that are out there for them if they continue their education."
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