Chihuahua Municipal Police maintain aerial operations with Halcón 1

The Chihuahua Municipal Police continue to utilize the Bell 206 helicopter, known as Halcón 1, for various operational tasks 24 years after its initial deployment in August 2002. The aircraft remains a key tool for aerial surveillance, search and rescue operations, and pre-hospital emergency medical support within Chihuahua Capital.

As the only municipal preventive police force in the state to operate such an aircraft, the department uses Halcón 1 to reinforce ground units through patrols guided by crime incidence analysis and heat maps. The flight crew typically includes a pilot and an aerial observer trained as a paramedic or emergency medical technician. The unit maintains constant communication with the Plataforma Escudo Chihuahua via the Monitoring and Operations Center.

Beyond surveillance, the helicopter has been utilized in vehicle pursuits, locating stolen vehicles, rescuing hikers, searching for missing persons, and providing aid at highway accidents. These aerial operations are currently supplemented by drones for searching rural and unpopulated areas.