OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Pilots from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) aviation unit may be stars of the small screen now that a new documentary series called Chopper Cops is streaming nationwide on Paramount+, but it’s not getting them any special treatment from family members.
“Is he kind of a big deal now?” I asked.
“He thinks he is,” laughed Alaxzandrea Bruner. She’s been hearing a lot of buzz from her friends these days. “‘Oh my God! Your dad is the coolest.’ They think he’s a big movie star now,” she said.
I talked to her outside the Marion Theatre on Sunday, June 16, following a red-carpet premiere of the show.
Her dad, Darren Bruner, is the Air One aviation unit commander and one of the main people profiled. The 10-episode series debuted for the rest of the nation on Tuesday, June 18.
Though the 30-year-old grew up knowing her dad’s job was dangerous, she says the program has given her a much different perspective.
“It’s a lot different. Between hearing the stories and actually seeing it is so different,” said Bruner. In the first episode, her dad is responding to assist another law enforcement agency that is searching for a man suspected of shooting a Eustis cop. “We got to hear about it firsthand so to see it and then hear his actual personal version of it, it tugs on your heart strings.”
It was emotional for Kelly Pope too. Her husband, Christopher, is a part-time Tactical Flight Officer with the squad. They have two small children at home.
“I loved seeing them in action and seeing what they go through every day,” said Pope. “It makes me proud and, of course, worried for them.”
|RELATED: New docuseries “Chopper Cops” shows human side of Marion County Sheriff’s Office
Christopher has been in law enforcement for about four and a half years and with the aviation unit for almost a year. He says he’s proud to be part of the team and his passion to serve the public outweighs concerns about potential danger.
“I love going to people in their darkest hour and helping them out,” said Pope.
The half-hour episodes are an immersive experience for the audience, using multiple point-of-view cameras and integrating footage from the thermal imaging night vision and augmented reality technology that the pilots rely on when they’re responding to high stakes calls for service.
From high-speed car chases to search and rescue operations, Air One’s mission is to support deputies on the ground.
“It was an awesome premiere. Very action packed,” said Jessica Kahant, whose husband works at Sheltair Aviation which is based at the Ocala International Airport. That’s where the Dallas-based documentary crew from V-1 Productions set up operations for nearly four months.
Kahant was stunned to learn about the violent crimes so close to home.
“I had no idea any of it was happening around us and we’ve lived here for four years. So, kudos to them for doing their job and keeping everybody safe and protected in our area, especially since it’s been growing over the last four years with so many new people coming,” said Kahant. “We’re always grateful for them serving and protecting the same way our military does. So, all I can say is incredibly grateful.”
While we couldn’t get access to any ratings data about how the show is performing with viewers, locally on social media it’s a hit. On the 352today Facebook page, the reviews are overwhelmingly positive.
Rachel Fabrizi wrote, “Best show I have ever watched!!!
While Ian Cain commented, “Watched 4 out of the 10 episodes…. Definitely worth checking out, they did an excellent job with this documentary.”
And inside the Marion Theatre on Sunday, the debut received loud applause from the audience.
Perhaps the most important critic gave the program a verbal two thumbs up. Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods stood up and in a commanding voice said, “HELL YEAH!”