Bryn Elliott, who spent 30 years as a police constable with the London Metropolitan Police, has since employed his skills globally, connecting public safety aviators in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe. This year’s recipient of HAI’s Law Enforcement Award, Elliott retired from the London force in 1996 and then embarked on an endeavor to bridge communications worldwide with the founding of his firm Police Aviation Research.

That organization is the parent company of Police Aviation News and the Police Aviation Conference (PAvCon) Europe. For Police Aviation News, Elliott has traveled throughout the world to gather information on helicopter usage in police aviation, search and rescue, and aeromedical transport. He has reported on helicopter safety information, including accident and incident reports, that aren’t easily obtained otherwise.

Elliott ventured into conferences in 2006 when he was invited to assist in setting up a series of police aviation shows. Following three successful events, he became president of PAvCon in 2009 and has since organized European police aviation conferences.

Underlying these efforts has been a quest to share ideas and resources, and HAI said his impact on helicopter safety is significant. “As a direct result of his work, notable progress in helicopter safety has been made in such places as Africa, the Netherlands, Germany, and Australia,” the association said in announcing the award, which is sponsored by MD Helicopters. “Public safety aviation across the globe is safer thanks to the research, media, and events Elliott and his company provide.”