LVMPD Air Support Gets $1 Million Federal Boost for Rescue Hoist, Searchlights and Helicopter Engine

The funding is expected to support rescue, patrol and major-event operations across Clark County as Metro’s aviation unit responds to thousands of calls each year.

NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Air Support Unit is set to receive about $1 million in federal funding for helicopter equipment intended to strengthen rescue missions, nighttime operations and fleet readiness across Clark County.

U.S. Sens. Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto visited LVMPD’s Air Support hangar this week to highlight the funding, which their offices said was secured through Community Project Funding in the fiscal year 2026 government funding law. In a Senate announcement, Rosen’s office described LVMPD as the only agency in Southern Nevada with a full-scale manned helicopter unit.

LVMPD said the funding will allow Air Support to be equipped with an additional rescue hoist, upgraded searchlights and a spare helicopter engine. The department said those resources are critical for faster responses, nighttime operations and mission readiness when crews are called to rescue missions, major incidents or daily patrol support.

The funding has been publicly described as $1 million. Local reporting and congressional funding summaries identify the project as approximately $1,031,000 for LVMPD Air Support equipment enhancement.

Why the funding matters for Clark County

LVMPD’s aviation unit plays a larger role than routine police patrol. According to the department’s Air Support and Search and Rescue page, the unit patrols more than 8,000 square miles, including residential areas, outlying communities and remote terrain across Clark County.

The unit’s duties include aerial support for patrol officers, search-and-rescue operations, suspect surveillance, transport flights, presidential motorcade escorts and maintenance of mountaintop radio repeater sites used for public-safety communications.

LVMPD says its Air Support fleet includes five helicopters: one Airbus H145, one Airbus H125 and three MD 530F aircraft. The unit operates 20 hours a day, seven days a week, with commissioned officer pilots, sergeants, a maintenance supervisor and aircraft mechanics.

Rescue hoist, searchlights and spare engine

The new equipment is aimed at three operational needs: extracting people during rescue missions, improving visibility during searches and reducing downtime when aircraft require maintenance.

FOX5 reported that the federal money will help pay for a rescue hoist, a high-powered searchlight and a spare engine for LVMPD’s helicopter fleet. The report said the rescue hoist will be used during search-and-rescue operations, while the searchlight will assist with pursuits and searches for suspects.

A spare engine can also be significant for aviation readiness. When a helicopter is offline for maintenance, the loss of a hoist-capable aircraft can affect daily operations and rescue availability. Las Vegas Sun reported that the funding is expected to help prevent delays for Metro Police helicopters.

Search and rescue role

LVMPD says its Search and Rescue Unit is tasked with all search-and-rescue operations in Clark County under Nevada law. The unit trains for technical mountain rescue, dive search and recovery, swift-water rescue, helicopter operations and tactical medical support.

The Clark County mission area includes popular outdoor destinations such as Red Rock Canyon, Lake Mead and desert recreation areas where rescues can require aircraft, hoists, specialized crews and coordinated ground teams.

FOX5 reported that LVMPD Deputy Chief Esmeralda Boveda said the department’s search-and-rescue team saved more than 60 lives last year and had already surpassed 70 saves through the first half of 2026.

Federal funding path

Rosen and Cortez Masto said the Air Support funding was secured through the Community Project Funding process. The senators said the money is part of federal funding intended to support public safety, search-and-rescue operations and major-event security in Southern Nevada.

Earlier congressional project disclosures tied the request to LVMPD’s Air Support equipment needs, including rescue and aircraft-readiness upgrades. The project was submitted as a local public-safety funding request through the federal appropriations process.

Rosen said the Air Support Unit is one of Metro’s critical tools for patrolling the skies, while Cortez Masto said the funding would help Metro secure the skies, protect large-scale events and continue search-and-rescue operations.

Large events and daily patrol support

The funding also comes as Las Vegas continues to host high-security events that can require coordinated air and ground operations. Senate and local reports cited patrols connected to major gatherings such as New Year’s Eve, Fourth of July events and large tourism-driven events on or near the Las Vegas Strip.

While the rescue hoist is closely tied to search-and-rescue missions, upgraded searchlights can support patrol officers during nighttime searches, vehicle pursuits and suspect apprehension. LVMPD’s 2025 figures show Air Support assisted in 127 pursuits and helped recover 438 stolen vehicles.

The bottom line

The federal funding gives LVMPD’s Air Support Unit additional aviation equipment for missions that range from remote rescues to urban patrol support. For Clark County residents and visitors, the practical impact is expected to be a better-equipped helicopter unit with added rescue capability, stronger nighttime search tools and more maintenance flexibility for its aircraft fleet.