New Indiana State Police aviation base now in operation

GREENWOOD, Ind. (AP) - A new Indiana State Police aviation base at a suburban Indianapolis airport is now in operation.

The agency began using the new hangar and office space at the Indy South Greenwood Airport this past week for its aviation fleet and special operations unit.

The hangar will house state police helicopters and airplanes and replaces a temporary location at the airport that the agency began using last year after its lease expired at the Indianapolis Regional Airport near Mount Comfort just east of Indianapolis, the (Franklin) Daily Journal reported.

State police Col. Mark French said the Greenwood airport was picked because it was close to Indianapolis and allowed room for growth.

The city of Greenwood paid for construction of the $2.5 million hangar, which state police will lease for $5,000 a month. About a dozen officers working for the aviation fleet and special operations are based at the hangar.

'œI'm not sure we could have done what we've done here anywhere else without the partnership they provided to us,'ť French said.