Budget woes force state police to close Manassas airbase
By Alexandra Bogdanovic
Area law enforcement agencies that rely on the state police for aerial support during search-and-rescue missions, manhunts or related incidents can no longer count on a rapid response.According to Corrine Geller, spokesperson for the Virginia Department of State Police, the state's budget woes forced the VSP to trim more than $22 million from its budget.
As a result, the agency closed its airbase at Manassas Airport, effective Oct. 25.
"It was definitely not an easy decision, and it will definitely have an impact [on the services] we are able to provide to law enforcement agencies [in that area]," Geller said.
Staffed by a sergeant and three trooper-pilots, the airbase was one of four operated by the state police in different parts of Virginia.
Equipped with both a fixed-wing aircraft and a helicopter, the airbase at Manassas Airport served the Northern Virginia area since 1988.
Unlike their counterparts assigned to the other airbases, personnel at the Manassas aviation barracks did not provide med-evac, or air ambulance services, Geller said.
Last year, personnel assigned to the Manassas airbase received 246 "requests for flight." Since the beginning of this year, they received 175.
"The bulk of the air support we provided was for pursuits, missing persons cases or fugitives," Geller said.
Geller said the personnel assigned to the Manassas airbase were allowed to choose between staying in this area and working the road, or being reassigned to the other regional airbases as trooper-pilots. Only one opted to remain in this area, she said.
The other airbases are in Lynchburg, Abingdon and Chesterfield County (near Richmond). The state police will continue to provide aviation services from those facilities, according to Geller.
Aircraft from Chesterfield and Lynchburg will respond to requests for flights from law enforcement agencies in this area.
Due to potential weather complications and greater distance, that will almost inevitably result in longer response times, Geller acknowledged.
How much each flight will cost — and whether or not the elimination of the aviation barracks at Manassas ultimately turns out to be an effective cost-cutting measure — remains to be seen.
"The cost associated with each flight will depend on the mission and how long it is," Geller said.
She could not say how much the agency hopes to save by closing the facility.