State Budget Cuts Could Ground Aviation Unit (Maryland)

[helicopper 1,050]

Yet another budget nightmare - this one over just $100,000.

State budget cuts could ground aviation unit

Natural Resources Police funding cut as State Police get new choppers

Candus Thomson | On the Outdoors

January 25, 2009

The Governor R.M. McLane, an 1884 steamer once the flagship of the Maryland Oyster Police, is a rusted shell grounded in the Inner Harbor, just as the Natural Resources Police aviation unit might be grounded by budget cuts. (Baltimore Sun photo by Candus Thomson / January 23, 2009)

If you take a walk along Baltimore's waterfront out where the Downtown Sailing Center keeps its boats and the Spirit of Philadelphia tourist boat is tied up for repairs, you might notice a huge rusted hulk, bow jutting up and midships filled with water.

It's the shell of the Governor R.M. McLane, once the flagship steamer of the Maryland Oyster Police, the forerunner of today's Natural Resources Police. Established by the General Assembly on March 30, 1868, NRP is the state's oldest law enforcement agency.

<<SNIP>>

The State Police issued a news release Wednesday crowing about its new "multi-mission" helicopter fleet, which will total a dozen in four years when all the purchasing is through. One of those "missions," I'm told, is to replace the NRP aviation unit.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/outdoor...,5768631.column

[Guest alsfirefighter]

Well I hope if they replace it with SP that the guys can somehow switch over to remain in their job capacities. Also I would imagine something has to give being they also provide the medevac service. Otherwise tough to justify with that cost and apparently what is being toted as a viable replacement that stops duplication of service.