Fayette's criminals

may be used to operating under cover of night, but they have that luxury

no longer.

The Georgia

State Patrol has loaned the Fayette County Sheriff's Department two pair

of night vision goggles to use for night helicopter patrols of the county.

The goggles will be used by chief pilot Bill Riley and observer/pilot

Les Gillespie as they patrol the county in Hawk One, the department's

ex-military helicopter.

Riley has over

3,200 flight hours recorded while using night vision goggles, including

extensive experience while he was in the military. He recalled using the

"first pair" of night vision goggles "that we swiped from

the Russians."

Riley also

trained the state patrol's pilots on using the apparatus.

"Anything

that can be seen during the day can also be seen at night with these goggles,"

Riley said. "If they're picking their nose, I know it."

The goggles,

which are configured into a special helmet worn by the pilot and spotter,

amplify existing light by 10,000 times, Riley noted. The visual display

is rendered in a green tint.

"They're

really the best thing that ever happened to flying in the dark,"

Riley said.

Although they

will be helpful for spotting criminals on the lam, the goggles will also

help find missing persons who are wondering around, Riley noted.

Gillespie started

training on the goggles last week.