I despise the routine use of helicopters by the police. That the cops would troll the skies, pissing away money, looking for something to justify their noise riles me.

Sure, we need copters to haul victims to a hospital. We may need them in certain emergencies. We DO NOT need them patrolling routinely.

If it were just one copter, maybe it would bother me less. But BCSD has more than one, APD has more than one, more than one news station has one. And then there are myriad Feds.

I’ve been awakened in the middle of the night by a copter shining its light into my bedroom. I’ve stood in its spotlight while walking the dog. It doesn’t make me feel a whit safer. mjh

ABQjournal: Copter Spared In Vetoes By Carolyn Carlson, Journal Staff Writer

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department will get $865,000 for a new helicopter to replace the one shot down, allegedly by a Paradise Hills man in August.

Sheriff Darren White said Friday that acquiring a new helicopter was the department’s top priority during the recent legislative session. He said the money allocated along with insurance money from the downed aircraft and some money thrown in from the county will be enough to buy a new one.

He anticipated it will cost about $2 million to replace the helicopter and its on-board technology.

“We are very pleased. That money will go a long way to putting another chopper in the air,” White said. “This also brings a bit of healing to the department.”

White said it would take about a year before the new helicopter was in operation.

“There are some unique characteristics we will need because of our high altitude and warm temperatures,” White said. “No matter who wins the bid we will probably be on a waiting list to have it built.”

The $2 million price tag includes a $250,000 infrared camera used to track people and cars at night, White said. [mjh: You can run but you can’t hide.]