Department Seeks Grants To Help Keep Aircraft Flying

The police department in Toledo, OH may be forced to ground its helicopter unless it is able to identify a grant for the $300,000 it will cost for a major overhaul.

The law enforcement-focused magazine Police reports that Toledo Police Chief George Kral said there is a mandatory factory overhaul due soon on the Robinson R44 it acquired in 2001, and the department does not have the money for the maintenance work.

The initial cost of the helicopter to the department was about half a million dollars, according to the report. City spokeswoman Janet Schroeder said that because the helo only flies "once or twice a week," the cost of the overhaul may not be justified.

Meanwhile, there is only one officer on the police force qualified to fly the R44, and he will be retiring soon. That also has city officials questioning the value of the aircraft.

The former chief of the department, Mike Navarre who is now police chief in Oregon, OH, said that while the R44 has been a valuable tool for the department, remotely-piloted aircraft are the future of police aviation departments.

(Image from Toledo, OH Police Facebook page)

FMI: www.toledopolice.com