Police Department Seeks Volunteer Pilots for Air Support Unit

The Redlands Police Department is recruiting volunteer pilots to participate in its Air Support Unit, Redhawk1. Pilots must be at least 21 years old with at least a private pilot’s license, current medical certificate and a minimum 300 hours flight time in a fixed-wing, general aviation aircraft with significant time in a Cessna 172. Volunteer pilots will be required to pass a background check and interview as well as explain their reason for volunteering and their flight experience. They will also be required to pass a flight test. Those selected must be able to fly at least one 5-hour shift per month and participate in trimester safety meetings. The Air Support Unit, using volunteer pilots, many of whom are retired law enforcement officers, and a specially outfitted Cessna 172 provides patrol and surveillance support to Redlands Police officers and special units on the ground. The Air Support Unit flies between 700 and 1,000 hours a year 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 also provides support through a mutual aid agreement with the Fontana Police Department. The Air Support Unit serves as a force multiplier, dramatically increasing the crime control effectiveness of the Police Department’s current efforts.