He’s in the air often and might as well as use some of that time to help others, he said.
“Mainly just whatever they need, just eyes in the sky so to speak,” said Kincade.
READ MORE: South Charleston seeks memorial to honor veterans
Clark County Commissioner Richard Lohnes flew with Kincade when they were both in the Air Force and learned about Kincade’s wish to serve again, Clark County Prosecutor Andrew Wilson said.
“He sent me an email and said a guy he use to fly with is retired, owns his own plane, has all the necessary certifications, has necessary insurance and, in retirement, he wants to serve local communities,” said Wilson.
Lohnes added: Kincade is willing to volunteer and do it at no cost to the county.
That got Wilson’s attention.
“A lot of bigger jurisdictions have air assets … we will be able to use it to help keep the community safe. Obviously, I was immediately interested,” said Wilson.
Kincade and his plane have already been used by Clark County law enforcement to search for Cassandra R. Fox, the missing woman from Tennessee who later was found dead near Buck Creek.
The retired pilot said a plane is a lot more helpful than a car.
“There’s a lot of things you can see from the air that you can’t see from the ground,” Kincade said.
DETAILS: Hometown Vet: Springfield native learned discipline in Army
He said this fulfills his wish of helping and the sense of mission that goes away once retired.
“I like to fly, so it’s a reason to have to fly, and I can deduct it from my income tax,” said Kincade jokingly.
He said he’s not looking for a job, just looking for a chance to do something good.
It can help solve crimes, Wilson added, and make the community safer.
Wilson, Kincade and others are still working out the exact details of the relationship, but they have identified a few ways he can help now.
“You could see if there was a police pursuit, a situation where you have a lost child or you had someone go missing in the reservoir or one of the rivers,” said Wilson.
Both Kincade and Wilson said they are excited about the future and what this new partnership can mean for Clark County.
About the Author