Pima County Sheriff's Heliport

Operational relocation and expansion. The Pima County Sheriff's Department moved its Air Support Unit to a dedicated, modern facility at Tucson International Airport (KTUS) for several reasons:
1. **Fleet Modernization:** The department was acquiring larger, more capable helicopters (like the Bell 407 and 429) that required more space for operations, maintenance, and storage than the small pad at the Sheriff's headquarters could provide.
2. **Improved Logistics:** Co-locating at a major airport provides immediate access to aviation fuel, specialized maintenance services (MROs), and the robust infrastructure of a controlled airfield.
3. **Enhanced Security & Safety:** Operating from a secure hangar within a controlled airport environment is safer and more secure than the previous location adjacent to a public building and a major highway.
4. **Efficiency:** The move consolidated the Air Support Unit's flight operations, crew offices, and maintenance support into a single, purpose-built location.

The site is no longer an active or registered heliport. The physical location is part of the Pima County Sheriff's Department main station complex at 1750 E Benson Hwy. The paved area where the helipad was located is now used as a parking lot and general-purpose space for the department. While the faint circular marking of the helipad may still be visible on satellite imagery, it is not maintained for aviation use.

The heliport, located at the Pima County Sheriff's Department headquarters on Benson Highway, served for many years as the primary base for the department's Air Support Unit. From this site, helicopters launched for a wide variety of missions, including:
- Law enforcement air patrol and surveillance over Tucson and Pima County.
- Search and Rescue (SAR) operations in the vast desert and mountainous terrain of Southern Arizona.
- Tactical support for ground deputies during pursuits, standoffs, and other critical incidents.
- Aerial photography and reconnaissance.
Its location at the main department building allowed for seamless coordination between command staff and air crews. The identifier 'US-11136' appears to be an unofficial catalog number from third-party aviation databases used to mark this now-defunct location.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening this heliport. The Pima County Sheriff's Department's Air Support Unit is now firmly established at its superior facility at Tucson International Airport (8AZ1). Reverting to the old, smaller, and less-equipped site would be a significant operational downgrade. The closure was part of a strategic modernization, making a return to the old location highly improbable.