The Texas Department of Public Safety honored its elite six-member Rescue Swimmer Unit on National Aviation Day on August 19, recognizing the highly trained specialists who conduct lifesaving operations across the state.
The unit, which transitioned from the Texas Highway Patrol to the Aircraft Operations Division in summer 2024, has become crucial for emergency responses in Texas’s challenging terrain and extreme weather conditions.
“Texas is home to some of the most challenging terrain and unpredictable weather in the nation,” said DPS Aircraft Operations Division Chief Pilot Stacy Holland. “Our Rescue Swimmer Unit ensures we can reach people in distress no matter the conditions and bring them to safety.”
Based in Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Alpine, and Edinburg, each swimmer pairs with a hoist-equipped aircraft for rapid deployment. The team conducts monthly training across varied environments, including open water, mountains, urban areas, and swift-moving water.
The unit’s 2024 operations included dramatic rescues during Hurricanes Beryl and Milton, plus a hiker recovery near Del Rio. Alpine units rescued a stranded family from a mountaintop and conducted multiple Big Bend recovery operations.
This year brought additional challenges. Teams rescued someone trapped in a Rio Grande Valley irrigation canal in May and played critical roles during recent Kerr County flooding.
Holland emphasized the unit’s importance during the floods: “In response to the tragic floods that recently impacted parts of Texas, including Kerr County, their swift and skilled efforts were crucial in rescuing those stranded and in danger.”
The Aircraft Operations Division ranks among the nation’s largest airborne law enforcement units. It operates 27 aircraft from 13 stations with over 100 personnel, including 50 police pilots and 35 Tactical Flight Officers.
The fleet includes 15 Airbus A-Stars, nine equipped with hoists, plus various other aircraft. AOD also manages the department’s 350-plus drone systems and remote pilot program for missions ranging from border security to accident reconstruction.