STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — It’s not clear why a Staten Island man would have pointed a laser at an NYPD helicopter. Regardless, ...

News 12’s Katelynn Ulrich takes you inside the aviation unit to meet the first Black man to lead the unit and the pilots he leads.

When 15-year-old Tyler Ortiz heard about the NYPD Youth Aviation program, he jumped at the chance to earn his wings. “Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve been interested in being able to ...