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Sheriff defends grant-funded helicopter program, disputes '$3,000-an-hour' characterization
Summary
Sheriff Mark J. Daniels said the county's helicopter program is fully grant-funded and provides search-and-rescue, SWAT support and oversight across Cochise County, and he called a recent board comment suggesting a $3,000-an-hour flight rate "misleading."
Sheriff Mark J. Daniels told KWCD listeners that Cochise County's helicopter program is provided through a third-party company and said it is "100% grant funded" so "the county pays nothing. It pays not a penny." He described the program as inclusive of pilots, fuel, maintenance and other costs.
The sheriff said the program flies missions that include search-and-rescue, oversight during search warrants and SWAT operations, and support for deputies in remote parts of the county. "We fly missions. We do some prevention stuff too. We oversee on search warrants... 87 hours in 3 months," he said, calling that usage "standard."
Daniels said the county pays an "installment of…
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