The Oakland Police Department’s (OPD) aviation program began over 50 years ago, initially operating Hughes 269 helicopters. The Air Support Unit—known as ARGUS, named after the hundred-eyed giant in Greek mythology—has since become a vital component of the department’s operations.
The aviation unit operates under OPD’s Support Operations Division, part of the Bureau of Field Operations, alongside the marine, canine, and tactical teams. Its primary missions include patrol and surveillance, search and rescue, ground support, disaster response, and aerial scene documentation.
On October 2, 1973, a department Hughes 269C helicopter crashed on Fruitvale Avenue in East Oakland due to mechanical failure. The tragic accident claimed the lives of Officer Wendell Troyer (pilot) and Officer David Guider (observer).
In mid-2014, OPD requested approximately $397,000 in additional funding to double ARGUS’s flight hours—from 8 to 16 per week—highlighting the effectiveness of aerial patrols in enhancing public safety.
In recent years, OPD has expanded its aerial capabilities to include unmanned aerial systems (UAS/drones), governed by policies covering data retention, chain of custody, and interagency sharing protocols.
As of 2025, OPD operates two MD 500E helicopters equipped with FLIR (forward-looking infrared) systems.
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