I think the point being made was the pilot of the Parks Police LongRanger carried out the rescues in circumstances which some contributors (based on what they've said here) might think were dangerous.
Not only did he fly in the middle of a snowstorm, but he was hovering inches above the Potomac which was iced over. At one point, his skids touched or even went slightly into the water- one of those rescued had two broken arms and couldn't put the lifebelt on. As I remember (it was 1982), the pilot put the skids on/slightly under the water, the crewman bent the man over the skids and he was flown to the river bank.
The crew went over the river six times and saved five lives; sadly a true hero who passed the lifebelt to five others instead of taking it himself drowned before he could be rescued.
TC or ARIS or anybody else .....
Was the pilot a brave hero who risked his own life to save others?
Or a dangerous pilot with a character defect?
(I think pilot and crewman were both heros - but I'm only an amateur pilot, not a trained professional.)