SHERIFF ADDS HELICOPTER TO GROWING FLEET

By Chris Jennewein

Reposted with permission from Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo: The San Diego Sheriff’s new Bell 407GX patrol helicopter

April 12, 2015 (San Diego)--San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore and other county officials unveiled a new $4.8 million patrol helicopter, bringing the agency’s fleet to eight with a ninth on the way later this year.

Gore was joined by Supervisors Bill Horn and Dianne Jacob at a ceremony on Thursday.

The new, five-passenger Bell 407GX will be used for patrol and search and rescue operations. With the addition of a hanging bucket, it can also be used in firefighting missions. The copter will be operated by the sheriff’s ASTREA department.

The sheriff’s department is also in the process of purchasing a Bell 205 firefighting helicopter to increase the agency’s firefighting helicopters to three.

By the end of 2015, the sheriff’s fleet will have nine helicopters. Six will be dedicated to 24/7 law enforcement operations and three to daytime firefighting and search and rescue operations.