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King County Sheriff's Office showed off there new "Guardian One" helicopter yesterday at Boeing Field. The new copter is a Bell 407 similiar to Komo's Air 4 and Kiro's Chopper 7.

The 3.4 million dollar copter was built in Canada and outfitted in Tennesee. The cost was paid for by a grant from Homeland Security.

Like -- What isn't paid for by Homeland Security ?? I bet if the Roy or Yelm PD's asked for money to buy new ammo -- the check would be in the mail. Sounds like this was a good move on everyones part. King County needs the new airship. I just don't want to hear that Homeland Security is buying a new Airship -- for 4.5 million for Asotin or Ferry Counties. Kudos to King County.

MTM,

I couldn't agree with you more :) ...........those surplused military birds they were using, I'm surprised they could still fly. Now, the new bird will get them to the seen faster.

I'm wondering if they will try and get there old huey replaced next? Maybe get a Seahawk or Jayhawk like the Navy and Coast guard have or even a Firehawk that LA County Fire uses, then they can supply water drops to assist local fire agencies during wildfires that are tough to access with vehicles.

The homeland security money was approved due to regional support from King, Snohomish, and Pierce Counties. Kitsap County lent some political support too, but the grant money was aimed at the designated urban region as defined by DHS, so the primary mission area is within the King, Snohomish and Pierce UASI region. Even so, King County can still fly missions outside the 3-county UASI region if a big enough emergency exists.

Of course King County S.O. is burdened with the bulk of staffing and maintance, so let's hope they can survive the budget cuts. There may come a day when the other counties and cities help with the staffing too. But it seems like a safe bet that the most demand for routine use will be in the greater Seattle/King County area.

Here's a 2005 article that describes how the aviation committee got started on the regional grant process. It wasn't a quick process:
http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20050703&slug=helicopter03m


As for Homeland Security paying for bullets; that would be a real stretch. Most all of the current grants probibit weaponry purchases, but even the approved items are prioritized toward the more populated areas.

Congrats to King County and the region.

any photos of choper.version.2

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If I had an antenna, I would; but I can only transmit on 160 meters.
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DE K7MHI

All of the residents in the greater Metro Seattle-Tacoma area should be thankful for such a needed tool. The Puget Sound area was one of the first regions in the US to use Military Copters to transport trama victims under the MAST program. And using Helicopters to fight fires would be great. I am all for the extra help. But who really pays for such "gifts" when it comes from some sort of Federal Grant? Not just Homeland Loto-Giveaway.

Hey, put some floats on it and we can get up to some excellent fly fishin' spots... :mrgreen:

Smokey 4 has been very busy lately at night in the PS area. They even offered to help SPD out when they couldn't get a hold of G1