A South Texas sheriff’s office will have two 60-year-old aircraft that could soon be used to hunt for criminals.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Kleberg County is adding some unusual firepower to its law enforcement arsenal, with two Vietnam-era helicopters potentially taking to the skies to help deputies patrol some of the county’s most remote areas.
The Kleberg County Sheriff’s Office now has access to two Hughes OH-6A Cayuse helicopters, commonly known as “Loaches.” The aircraft were originally designed for military observation and reconnaissance during the Vietnam War.
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Sheriff Richard Kirkpatrick says the first helicopter was offered to the county after the state contacted him about an aircraft previously used by the Webb County Sheriff’s Department.
“You never know because I guess by the time we look at the parts and all that kind of stuff and realize that we might be able to make them both airworthy I think it may be one of those things where we just try to figure out as time moves forward.”
Kirkpatrick says the aircraft were built to last, and similar helicopters are still being used by law enforcement agencies across the country.
“it was designed to last a long time and hence, here we are almost 60 years later and these machines are still being used by various law-enforcement agencies around the nation even today.”
The sheriff says the helicopters could provide an advantage in Kleberg County because of the distances deputies sometimes have to cover.
While drones are increasingly being used by law enforcement, Kirkpatrick says they are not always practical when deputies need to search large, remote areas.
“Drones are being deployed more and more in certain environments for us because of our remote uniqueness, a drone does have some usefulness, but in some cases where we have to go long distance, a drone simply won’t work.”
Kirkpatrick says he contacted other sheriffs about potentially sharing the aircraft. Those agencies agreed to cover half of the fuel costs when the helicopter flies into their counties.
While looking for parts for the first helicopter, Kirkpatrick discovered another OH-6A in El Paso.
The El Paso Police Department had the same type of aircraft and offered it to Kleberg County.
Kleberg County Commissioner Chuck Schultz says the helicopters could provide another tool for deputies patrolling the county’s brush country.
“ we’ve got a lot of brush country, we’ve got some illegal activity going on, illegals coming through, I think it may be a good asset for us and it’s not going to cost the taxpayers of Kleberg County a penny.”
The second helicopter is expected to arrive later this week.
Both helicopters will be stored at the Kleberg County Airport. Kirkpatrick says the department already has three pilots, a mechanic and six spare engines ready to help keep the aircraft operational.
The sheriff says it remains to be seen whether one or both helicopters will ultimately become airworthy, but if they do, they could soon be flying over South Texas in a new mission nearly five decades after first taking to the skies.