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Finding an unconscious missing person in a green space, tracking a speeding stolen vehicle travelling at speeds RPS said were up to 200 km/h, and guiding officers to an abandoned car containing a homicide victim in the trunk are among the life-saving and crime-fighting exploits of Regina’s police plane.
Now two officers from the force’s Aerial Support Unit (ASU) have earned major international recognition for their ongoing work to keep the Queen City and its surrounding areas safe.
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ASU pilot Sgt. Steve Wyatt, right, and tactical flight officer Cst. Corrie Neufeld received the Airborne Public Safety Association’s Fixed-Wing Operator Award — an international honour that recognizes a pilot or crew member whose performance while operating a fixed-wing aircraft has made a significant impact on their police agency’s ground operations. (Regina Police Service/Submitted)
Regina Police Service (RPS) said in a news release on Aug. 21 that in July, ASU pilot Sgt. Steve Wyatt and tactical flight officer Cst. Corrie Neufeld received the Airborne Public Safety Association‘s Fixed-Wing Operator Award — an international honour that recognizes a pilot or crew member whose performance while operating a fixed-wing aircraft has made a significant impact on their police agency’s ground operations.
Wyatt and Neufeld make up part of a dedicated six-person team that works across two separate shifts to patrol Regina from the sky that responded to around 1,800 calls for service, leading to the arrests of 480 people who then faced 900 Criminal Code charges in 2025, the release said.
The pair used the plane’s specialized infrared camera technology to locate an unconscious missing person in a local green space, directing ground patrol officers and paramedics to the exact location, allowing the person to be rushed to the hospital, where they survived.
The award also recognized the unit’s ability to safely follow high-speed pursuits, after the crew helped RCMP officers track a stolen vehicle driving erratically on Highway 11 at speeds RPS said reached up to 200 km/h.
In Regina the vehicle continued to be driven recklessly for several hours, despite the use of tire deflation devices. When the vehicle finally broke down and the suspects ran off, the police plane continued t keep watch, guiding officers to the suspects to make an arrest.
The plane also directly supported a homicide investigation after tracking a vehicle after it fled from ground officers during an attempted traffic stop.
After the vehicle was abandoned, the plane directed ground units to it and subsequent search by officers found a dead man inside the trunk. RPS said the tracking directly resulted in homicide charges being laid.
While the international award specifically named the two crew members, RPS said that it stands as a testament to the crucial work being carried out daily by the entire Regina ASU.
The eye in the sky continues to show no signs of slowing down. From July 16 to Aug. 16 in 2026, the unit responded to 186 calls for service, leading to 31 arrests and 56 criminal charges, RPS said.
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