Address:
199 N. Hangar Way
San Bernardino, CA 92415

Phone:
909-252-4100
FAX 909-252-4109

Contact Us

Office Hours:
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Programs

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Emergency Operations Division provides operational, logistical and management support services to all public safety agencies throughout the County of San Bernardino, which is the largest geographical county in the United States.  We also provide mutual aid assistance to neighboring counties via the California Office of Emergency Services.

The Emergency Operations Division has a total of 47 personnel and manages approximately 1,281 volunteers, including Sheriff’s Reserves, Citizens on Patrol, Explorers, and other Volunteers throughout the county. The Emergency Operations Division is divided into two sections or units: Aviation and Volunteer Forces.

Building Statistics

Land: 8 Acre parcel
Hangar Size: 51,000 square feet
Office Size: 12,000 square feet

Aviation Unit History

The Sheriff’s Aviation Unit was formed in 1972 by Terry Jagerson. The first two helicopters were turbo charged civil aviation Bell 47G helicopters obtained through federal grant funds. Over the years, more helicopters were added to the fleet to cover the vast size of the county. The helicopters were kept inside an aircraft hangar in Rialto, California until 2015 when the unit moved operations to the San Bernardino International Airport.

Mission

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Aviation Unit is the lead aerial law enforcement agency for the county. Sheriff’s Aviation provides general law enforcement support, narcotics surveillance, personnel/cargo transport, airborne photography, search and rescue operations, wild land fire suppression and emergency medical transport services. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Aviation Unit has the following aircraft:

6     –    Airbus H125 helicopters

1     –    Eurocopter AS350 B3 helicopter

1     –    Bell UH-1H medium helicopters

1     –    Bell 212 medium helicopter

2  –    Subaru Bell 412EPX high-performance utility helicopters

2     –    Mahindra Air Van fixed wing airplane

3     –    Beechcraft King Air fixed wing airplanes

16   –   Total Aircraft

All of our patrol helicopters are equipped with the latest aviation technology including high-definition Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) systems, night vision, in-flight GPS mapping programs, night sun, external hoist systems and high-definition video downlink capability. The search and rescue helicopters are equipped with external hoists, emergency medical equipment and if needed, fire tanks/buckets.

Volunteer Forces Unit History

The Sheriff’s Volunteer Forces Unit was established in 1991 with the primary objective of standardizing and coordinating the numerous volunteer programs operating throughout the Sheriff’s Department. The unit’s founding members were instrumental in developing the Citizens on Patrol program, along with other innovative initiatives designed to enhance operational support and strengthen community engagement in furtherance of the Department’s mission.

Mission

Volunteer Forces provides critical search and rescue services, evacuation planning and disaster response, and operates the Department Operations Center during emergencies. The unit also oversees the recruitment, management, and training of approximately 1,200 dedicated volunteers countywide.

In addition, Volunteer Forces plays a key role in emergency communications by coordinating and disseminating emergency alerts to the public during critical incidents, ensuring timely, accurate information reaches affected communities.

The unit maintains a fleet of specialized assets, including mobile command trailers, off-road response vehicles, and the Cal OES Mobile Interoperability Gateway Unit (MIGU), which delivers redundant and resilient radio communications capabilities. Volunteer Forces is also responsible for the coordination of all Region VI mutual aid resources on behalf of Sheriff-Coroner Shannon Dicus, ensuring effective interagency support during large-scale incidents.

2025 Emergency Operation Division Statistics

Aviation Unit

Calls for Service (County Areas)        –             1,531

Calls for Service (Contract Cities)      –             2,422

Calls for Service (Allied Agencies)         –         2,586

Calls for Service (Other)                    –                215

Total Calls for Service                        –             6,739

Total Flight Time (Hours)                   –             3,781

Total Arrests                                      –                843

Total Pursuits                                     –                252

Helicopter S & R Calls                       –                207

Hoists                                                 –                  76

Volunteer Forces Unit

Explorers                                             –               122

Line Reserves                                      –                 41

Citizens on Patrol                                –               342

Search and Rescue                              –               341

Posse                                                   –                 71

Support Units                                      –               435

Total Number of Volunteers                –             1,281

Total Search and Rescue Missions       –               150

Total Hours Donated                           –         186,430

National Hourly Rate (if charged)       –           $34.79

Total Savings to the County              –  $6,485,899.70