New police helicopter for Spokane County, Washington
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, in the US state of Washington, has announced its acquisition of a new Bell 505 helicopter
The rotorcraft, which cost US$3.4 million, will replace a pair of 55-year-old helicopters that are being phased out due to their age and rising maintenance costs.
The helicopter is equipped with a range of equipment to support its law enforcement role, including a live video feed and thermal imaging cameras.
The aircraft was unveiled at an event on 4 June at Felts Field, an airfield northeast of downtown Spokane.
It was funded through a mix of local, state, and federal sources, as well as from the sale of the older aircraft. This included a $500,000 grant from the US federal Department of Justice, as well as $1.6 million from Spokane County, and a $200,000 grant for thermal imaging cameras from the State of Washington.
According to Spokane Valley Police Chief Dave Ellis, speaking to the local Spokesman-Review newspaper, the helicopter’s “advanced technology will improve our ability to combat rising auto thefts and conduct safer operations, including searches for missing children, Alzheimer’s patients and outdoor recreationists”.
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office previously announced plans to acquire a new helicopter in September 2023.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at AirMed&Rescue. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.