The Air Support Unit of the Redlands Police Department took flight in May 2007 in a specially outfitted Cessna 172 purchased with drug asset seizure funds.
With 26 volunteer pilots, many of whom are retired law enforcement officers, the Redlands Police Department Air Support Unit provides patrol and surveillance support to Redlands Police officers and special units on the ground.
The program is paid for largely out of drug asset seizure funds, taken from local drug dealers, a portion of which is returned to the local law enforcement agency specifically for use in narcotics-related law enforcement purposes. The rest of the program is funded with traffic impound funds, designated by law for use with traffic related enforcement and from private donations.
None of the program’s funding comes from the city’s General Fund, the money used to pay for traditional city obligations such as street maintenance and repair, tree trimming, police and firefighters and other personnel.
Since 2007 the Air Support Unit has logged more than 1,500 hours of flight time in a variety of duties, including patrolling the city’s streets, neighborhoods and canyon areas, assisting ground units and providing surveillance assistance to specialized units.
The Air Support Unit serves as a force multiplier, dramatically increasing the crime control effectiveness of the police department’s current efforts.
Air Support Unit statistics in calendar year 2009:
