The new air support unit in San Angelo is cutting response times with locally stationed pilots.
SAN ANGELO, Texas — The Texas Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) new San Angelo-based air support unit is inspiring excitement and curiosity in residents, troopers and other law enforcement officials.
DPS Sgt. Justin Baker said in his 20 years in the city, his division has never had full-time pilots available to help with searches and patrols. Having helicopter pilots stationed locally cuts down response time, and the air support unit has had its hands full early on. Pilot Lt. Lance Meier’s unit flew to Schleicher County Tuesday morning after assisting in last week’s search for a missing toddler in Coke County.
After social media posts asked whether the helicopters were part of a search or regular patrol, Meier said there often won’t be a clear difference.
“You probably won’t know,” Meier said. “San Angelo in the past has always been at a lack of air support… they’ve had to call air support in whenever something big is happening, (and) there was never air support when something wasn’t going on.”
Meier said when his unit doesn’t have an active call, it will fly much like ground patrols do. The helicopter is equipped with a camera with exceptional range, which gives extra eyes to other law enforcement in the region.
Meier said the unit hopes to add a fixed-wing aircraft, allowing it to fly for longer without being noticed as easily.