The Jet Rangers were acquired from the military several years ago and have operated in conjuction to the Hughes C-500's.  The Huey is a new acquisition bought during last years budget.  All are based out to the Norris Rd Sheriff's Facility.

I'd feel elated if confiscated drug money was applied to law enforcement functions.

A Huey?  Talk about overkill.  4,000 pound payload and $ 500 per hour direct operating expense without pilot.

What a waste.  Remember this next time the Sheriff whines about a lack of funds.

I'd feel elated if confiscated drug money was applied to law enforcement functions.

It's a big money maker for OCDETF (a sub branch in DOJ branches) at the federal level.  Should some politicans ever get cajones and try to cut excess government programs, they would be the first before congress to testify how much money they seize for the government.  The OCDETF in the Eastern District of CA is the busiest of the 94 districts in siezing assets

Nothing like falling asleep to the sothing sound of the police helicopter circling the neigboorhood every night

Nothing like the sound of a HUEY---it could be your saviour or hell from above...but talk about a workhorse..I'm glad to see that she is still flying---she earned it....

Definitely can be your saviour, just ask the man who was horse camping a couple of weeks ago and suffered a heart attack. The Sheriff's HUEY was the only one out of five helicopters used that could effect his rescue due to its power. Helicopters are not all the same. The HUEY has the power to lift in high temperatures during the summer months and also in the high elevations in the mountainous regions of our county that the lesser aircraft just can't manage. The smaller aircraft are fine for patrol work but you need a real workhorse like the HUEY for search and rescue operations and for transporting suad sized teams like SWAT.