19 Responses to “Morgan Grounds Helicopters”

1. art on March 10th, 2013 7:00 am

   again?

2. Mikey on March 8th, 2013 9:23 pm

   Get rid of the silly paramilitary gear next. Cops belong in normal uniforms, knocking on citizens doors politely – not playing ramboseal.

3. David Huie Green on March 8th, 2013 8:52 am

   Remotely piloted aircraft, preferably without Hellfire missiles, but that’s up to others.

   Itty bitty remote controled blimps filled with hydrogen so they can observe us for days at a time. (If the hydrogen burns, nobody present to be scorched.)

   Put the video and audio feeds online (or even on TV) so we can all enjoy the view. (PAY PER VIEW?) Maybe even let the public suggest search areas when not actively performing law enforcement operations.

   On the other hand, that might cut into coming commercial endeavors.

   David in a fish bowl world

4. Karen on March 7th, 2013 8:22 pm

   I thought Morgan grounded them when he got elected, how many times is he gonna take them out of service? Seems like he whines like another elected official I see on TV all the time.

5. citizen on March 7th, 2013 6:45 pm

   You know, McNesby was operating them under Grant Money as well. So what excuse does Morgan have now????? Let’s face it. If it has a hint of scent from the McNesby admin’, Morgan doesn’t support it.. My how kids will play. Grow up man, the election has been over for years. I gave up a few years ago on thinking you may change things. You are no different than any other one that’s been in there.

6. Time for Internal Audit on March 7th, 2013 11:37 am

   Someone needs to do an internal audit on the Sheriff’s Office. That person needs to release to the public the financials of the top paid officials, there are too many chiefs and not enough indians. So lets cut another crime fighting tool!!! Better yet, lets get rid of these top officials that are sitting on 35-40 years of service, draining the tax dollars, not being productive, sitting at a desk and put some more indians on the streets. It is time for re-election…. Most people have no clue what goes on at the Sheriff’s Office, ignorance makes some people sleep easier..

7. leggrizer on March 7th, 2013 6:55 am

   Drones are what is needed , not an antiquated mannned helicopter .

8. Chris on March 6th, 2013 6:50 pm

   Is it time for re-election?

9. Rufus Lowgun on March 6th, 2013 12:15 pm

   Well, it’s a good thing there aren’t any open stretches of water, swampland or forest around here that might someday need searching by the Sheriff’s Department.

   /sarcasmofff

10. Patriot on March 6th, 2013 12:04 pm

    Puddin said: “If the money was from a grant it wasnt costing the tax payers anything, right?”

    Where do you think grants come from? It ain’t a private donation…it’s tax dollars, yours and mine!

    Also, an aircraft can’t “just be used for emergencies”, it has to be flown on a somewhat regular basis for a variety of reasons, and that costs money. Don’t get me wrong, I support having them, but it’s not going to be free.

11. puddin on March 6th, 2013 11:38 am

    If the money was from a grant it wasnt costing the tax payers anything, right? Now if there are no helicopters in the city I dont see that as a huge big deal. But what about up here where there are miles of open country that would take hours to search on foot or by car. But take much less time by air? Seems to me we should keep at least one helicopter around in case it might be needed. They cant cost all that much just to maintain. Use it for emergencies up here and it shouldnt be cost prohibitive.

12. Ben Thar on March 6th, 2013 9:14 am

    Maybe there’s a sale on radio-controlled helicopters…I mean drones…over at Radio Shack.

13. Patriot on March 6th, 2013 8:45 am

    In response to My2Cents,

    Ok, you’re wrong.

    The helicopters were here before Morgan was elected.

    In response to Lifendason,

    That money is a grant. No air unit = no grant.

14. BubbaRay on March 6th, 2013 8:39 am

    Morgan was not the one who acquired the helicopters. He inherited them from his predecessor McNesby who used them primarily to beat traffic getting to lunch at Hooters on the beach. However, Morgan did say he was going to do away with them during his initial run for Sheriff, but then when he found Federal Funds for them he bellied up to the trough just like every other politician….

15. citizen on March 6th, 2013 8:34 am

    Well, he took office saying they weren’t cost effective, then he puts them back in the air claiming they are and now they aren’t again???? Morgan only responds to what he thinks the public wants to hear.. I remember him ranting about how much they cost McNesby to operate during his 2008 election, he grounds them when he gets elected, people start complaining, he puts them back in the air, now the public complains about the cost and he grounds them again. Make up your mind man..Which is it?????

16. My2Cents on March 6th, 2013 8:14 am

    “David Morgan is grounding his department’s helicopters, saying that they are not a cost effective investment.”

    Correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t Morgan the one who purchased the helicopters when he took office to begin with? Only now to say they aren’t a cost effective investment…..WOW!

17. Lifendason on March 6th, 2013 8:11 am

    I can understand the decision to do away with and to keep the helos, but my question is now that they are grounded, where is that money going? I say in the pockets of our men and women deputies who put their life on the line for each of us daily.

18. Jane on March 6th, 2013 5:53 am

    I often wondered how useful police helicopters actually are. I am sure there are instances where they can help, but they are very costly to operate. I am glad we have a sheriff who looks at the cost versus the results and makes cost effective decisions while keeping us safe!

19. well on March 6th, 2013 5:07 am

    Funny
    Thats what he said the first time he ever ran for election.