bear in the air

a bear in the air

A police officer in an airplane or helicopter. Likely related to highway patrol officers being called "bear," a possible reference to Smokey the Bear (a cartoon character who wears a hat similar to those sometimes worn by the highway patrol). That's a bear in the air! If they shine their spotlight down on us, we're doomed!
See also: air, bear
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

bear in the air

n. a police officer in an airplane or a helicopter. (Citizens band radio.) They’ve got a bear in the air on duty in northern Indiana.
See also: air, bear
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • a bear in the air
  • bear cage
  • baby bear
  • bear out
  • as much as the traffic will bear
  • traffic
  • bearing
  • take the bear by the tooth
  • bear up
  • play dead