SANTA ROSA COUNTY

SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Sheriff Wendell Hall

Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office Receiving Helicopter

The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office is adding a helicopter to its ranks on May 08, 2007. The helicopter is currently part of a fleet of four, belonging to the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office. The helicopter, an OH-58A+ Bell Jet Ranger, is being donated by St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara. It is being flown from St. Lucie County to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office by St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office pilots. It is tentatively scheduled to arrive at approximately 2 pm. The helicopter is at no cost to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office and will be utilized for drug eradication and special circumstances, such as missing people and natural disasters. It will not be flown on a regular basis for patrol functions. The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office has been without its own department air support since September 03, 2003, when its fixed wing aircraft crashed during a marijuana eradication mission in the north end of Santa Rosa County. Sheriff Wendell Hall is pleased to receive this gracious donation from a fellow agency and is currently exploring ways to fund the fuel and maintenance that is necessary to operate the helicopter. The funds needed for the operation of this new addition to our agency will not cost tax payers or the county any additional funds. The primary funding for this new addition will be met through drug seizure funds and grants that are available to the Sheriff's Office. The media is welcome to attend the arrival of the helicopter (tentative time of 2 pm on Tuesday, May 8 th ) at the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office. Please contact Sgt. Scott Haines if you plan on attending. Additional questions will be fielded at the Sheriff's Office upon the arrival of the helicopter.

Press Release By:

Sgt. Scott Haines

850-981-2136

850-698-4441