BALTIMORE (AP) - Maryland’s governor has pledged Baltimore the help of helicopter missions to fight crime, but the union representing pilots says understaffing will leave the promise unfulfilled.

The Baltimore Sun reports Maryland State Police is down to less than 50 pilots from the more than 70 it had in recent years.

Gov. Larry Hogan this week told Baltimore Mayor Bernard “Jack” Young that state police would carry out “tactical flights over Baltimore whenever their duties bring them into or near the city.”

Patrick Moran is the president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 3. He says the promised operations won’t take place because of manpower and aircraft conditions.

Moran says the State Police has 10 helicopters of which one is “broken” and three are undergoing “heavy maintenance.”

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Information from: The Baltimore Sun, http://www.baltimoresun.com

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