Enhances Emergency Response And Maintains Public Safety

The City Council of Chino, California, recently approved the purchase of a Bell 505 helicopter for its police department as it continues to expand.

The cost of the helicopter will be covered by funds from the Law Enforcement Development Impact Fee and a $1 million grant allocated by Curt Hagman, San Bernardino County Supervisor.

The helicopter will be based in a hangar at the County-owned Chino Airport (KCNO), where a future police department substation will be located. The hangar lease will cost about $9,000 per month according to Lt. Aaron Kelliher. He said the operating costs of the helo will be about $640,000 annually to include maintenance, insurances, and salary for two or three pilots.

Lt Kelliher said the helicopter will enable the police to reduce response times by 15 percent and assist the department in tracking escaped inmates from the California Institute for Men, located in Chino.

A staff report from the prison noted that the state’s “continuing disregard for the safety of residents with the underfunding of the prison has created an increased threat to the safety of the community. It added that the state has exacerbated the security situation by the addition of housing death row inmates.

However, the report concluded that the addition of a police helicopter would significantly enhance the department’s ability to respond to emergencies, manage incidents, and maintain public safety in the rapidly growing city.

FMI:  www.cityofchino.org/