Full Notification

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  
September 8, 2026         
CONTACT: Public Affairs
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SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT RECEIVES MORE THAN $1 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR AIR RESCUE OPERATIONS

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department announced today that it will receive $1.031 million in federal funding secured by U.S. Representative Judy Chu to support the Department’s search-and-rescue aviation program and assist with the cost of new rescue helicopters serving communities throughout San Bernardino County, including the Mt. Baldy area of the Angeles National Forest.

San Bernardino County has invested approximately $36 million in new rescue helicopters to modernize the Sheriff’s Department’s aviation fleet and ensure crews have reliable aircraft capable of performing lifesaving missions in some of the most difficult terrain in the nation. The federal investment will help offset a portion of that local investment, allowing County resources to continue supporting the personnel, maintenance, equipment, training and operational costs necessary to sustain the air rescue program.

The federal investment follows years of advocacy by Sheriff Shannon Dicus and San Bernardino County leaders for greater federal partnership in supporting emergency operations, including the significant search-and-rescue demands associated with federally managed lands such as Mt. Baldy.

San Bernardino County encompasses more than 20,000 square miles of mountains, deserts and remote terrain. The Sheriff’s Aviation Unit operates specially equipped search-and-rescue helicopters with external hoists and advanced emergency medical equipment. Through a partnership with the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, County Fire paramedics are assigned to the Sheriff’s Aviation program, allowing crews to reach patients in remote terrain, provide advanced life support care at the scene and during extraction, and transport critically injured patients to definitive medical care.

Sheriff Shannon Dicus said the funding demonstrates meaningful progress following years of advocacy for greater federal participation in the cost of rescue operations on and around Mt. Baldy.

“For several years, we have made the case that Mt. Baldy is not simply a local search-and-rescue issue. Our deputies, air crews and volunteer search-and-rescue members respond because there is a life on the other end of that call, and we will never hesitate to do that. This $1 million federal investment is an important acknowledgment that the federal government also has a responsibility to help provide the resources necessary to keep the public and our rescuers safe. I want to thank Representative Chu for hearing our concerns, staying engaged with us and delivering a meaningful investment in our air rescue program.”

The need for advanced rescue aircraft is especially significant in San Bernardino County’s rugged mountain terrain, where hoist operations can be the only practical means of reaching an injured or stranded person. The Department operates two dedicated rescue aircraft capable of search and rescue missions, medical evacuations, hoist operations, and other emergency response missions. From April 2024 through August 2026, these aircraft responded to 177 rescue or medical assistance calls, extracted or transported 233 people, and conducted 139 flights involving hoist operations.

Mt. Baldy, including the Devil’s Backbone Trail, remains among the County’s most demanding rescue environments. During that same period, the area accounted for 12 documented rescue flights involving the two aircraft, while nearby Ice House Canyon, San Antonio Falls and Cucamonga Peak generated additional missions. Rescue activity increases again during the winter months, when snow and ice can rapidly transform heavily traveled trails into hazardous mountaineering terrain.

San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Joe Baca, Jr. said the investment recognizes the regional importance of the Sheriff’s air rescue program while helping protect local taxpayers.

“Public safety remains one of San Bernardino County’s highest priorities, and this federal investment will help ensure our Sheriff’s Department has the resources needed to respond when lives are at risk. Our aviation and search-and-rescue teams operate across some of the most challenging terrain in our region, where having the right aircraft can make all the difference. We are grateful to Congresswoman Judy Chu for securing more than $1 million to strengthen this lifesaving capability and help keep our residents, visitors, and first responders safe.”

The challenges of mountain rescue were underscored during a severe winter storm cycle from December 28 through December 30, 2025, when Sheriff’s aircraft conducted seven flights in the Devil’s Backbone and Cucamonga Peak areas. On December 29, three hikers were found deceased near the Devil’s Backbone Trail after apparent falls in severe winter conditions, with high winds initially preventing their recovery. During the same storm cycle, crews also rescued multiple hikers, including locating a victim who had fallen approximately 700 feet and remained alive.

U.S. Representative Judy Chu said the funding will help ensure San Bernardino County’s rescuers have the equipment necessary to continue performing these difficult missions.

"The San Gabriel Mountains are one of our region's greatest treasures, but Mt. Baldy's steep terrain and unpredictable conditions can make emergencies especially dangerous and search-and-rescue operations incredibly difficult. Our San Bernardino County first responders have repeatedly put their own safety on the line to reach people in need, and they deserve the best tools available to do their jobs safely and effectively. That's why I was proud to deliver more than $1 million in federal community project funding I secured in Congress for the Sheriff’s Department to purchase a new helicopter, giving rescuers a critical tool to reach people quickly and safely when every minute matters."

The federal award will reduce the County’s share of the capital investment and help preserve local resources necessary to sustain the Sheriff’s air rescue program for years to come. By reducing the County’s share of the capital cost, the federal award helps preserve local resources needed to sustain the personnel, maintenance, training, medical equipment and operational capabilities that keep the air rescue program mission-ready.

The Department’s aircraft also provide emergency medical transportation, personnel insertion and extraction, law enforcement support, wildfire support and mutual aid. 


The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is the law enforcement agency for the largest geographical county in the nation. Sheriff Shannon Dicus currently serves as San Bernardino County’s 36th Sheriff-Coroner. The department serves over 2.3 million residents, with eight county and 14 contract patrol stations and over 4,500 employees to ensure the quality and safety of those we serve.