The Cochise County Sheriff's Office is leasing its first-ever helicopter.
The Sierra Vista Herald reports that the Bell 406 L4 helicopter will help expanded law enforcement and emergency response capabilities for the sheriff's office and the Sierra Vista Police Department.
Arizona Department of Public Safety and U.S. Border Patrol have often made their helicopters available to their law enforcement colleagues, but those agencies are sometimes off on other missions when their aircraft are needed.
The cost of the program, including the lease, fuel and training costs, comes to about $1.5 million and is completely covered a foundation that has also provided funds for an aerial drone, a new shooting range and set of 120 handguns for the sheriff's office.