Helicopters Over Copper

Earlier today the Calaveras Sheriff Department confirmed that the heavy helicopter activity at the Copperopolis Fire Protection District Station #1 on Main Street was not Calaveras County Sheriff Department training.

The activity was assumed to be the efforts of CAMP (Campaign Against Marijuana Planting ) personnel conducting a joint narcotics effort.

The Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP) Program is a multi-agency task force composed of local, state, and federal resources organized for the express purpose of discouraging and diminishing marijuana cultivation and trafficking in California. Moreover, CAMP promotes public information and education efforts to inform citizens on problems associated with marijuana cultivation. The Department has participated in the CAMP Program since its inception in 1983. Departmental officers have acted as the Helitak Manager, Regional Operations Commanders (ROC), Assistant Regional Operations Commanders (AROC), CAMP Reconnaissance and Arrest Team (C-RAT) members, and Eradication Team members.

http://www.chp.ca.gov/programs/camp.html