The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office helicopter is anticipated to be flying over the county and ready for action toward the end July.
The sheriff’s office has hired a pilot to fly the chopper. But equipment is still being installed on the helicopter, a 2018 Bell 505, also known as a Jet Ranger X.
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly announced the purchase of the $1.42 million helicopter earlier this year as part of a public-private partnership with Dan Newlin, a personal-injury attorney whose billboards are found throughout the region. Both Staly and Newlin are former Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
Here is some more information about the helicopter.
Who will fly the Flagler County helicopter?
The sheriff’s office has hired Patrick Deans, a commercial helicopter pilot and former deputy with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office as a sworn deputy sheriff. Deans most recently worked with Newlin’s law office, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deans has over 3,600 total flight hours with extensive knowledge in law enforcement flight operations, the sheriff’s office stated. Deans also served in the Marine Corps.
Deans’ annual salary with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is $93,295.24.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office also had hired pilot as a consultant
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office also paid $9,000 to Deans as part of Black Heart Aviation LLC., in Titusville, for “time and expertise” as a consultant on the helicopter project. Deans is listed as Black Heart Aviation’s manager and registered agent in state corporate records.
What is the planned annual operating budget for the helicopter?
The sheriff’s office stated in February that it estimated that the cost of fuel, maintenance and insurance for the helicopter will be between $200,000 to $250,000 annually.
The News-Journal asked on June 26 whether those numbers had changed or whether there was an update on the cost but has not yet heard back from the sheriff’s office.
Will the sheriff’s office seek money for helicopter operations from the Flagler County?
“Sheriff Staly and his team are funding the helicopter operations through savings in the budget,” the sheriff’s office stated in February.
Will the helicopter be operational 24 hours a day?
No. The sheriff’s helicopter will not be used 24 hours a day because that would waste taxpayer dollars since it would duplicate services provided by the county’s chopper, FireFlight, according to the sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office chopper would “generally be available” when the county’s “Fireflight” helicopter is not.
FireFlight operates from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. everyday, Flagler County Fire Rescue Chief Michael Tucker wrote in an email to The News-Journal asking about its hours.
How will medical transport duties with Flagler County Fire Rescue’s FireFlight be divided?
The sheriff’s office helicopter would fly injured people only as part of emergency transportation to area trauma canters and only upon request of on-scene Flagler County Fire Rescue paramedics, the sheriff’s office stated. The county’s FireFlight will continue to serve as the primary medical transport and firefighting aircraft. FireFlight will also support law enforcement when operational, the sheriff’s office stated.
“The Sheriff’s Office helicopter is first and foremost a law enforcement aircraft. This aircraft will not be a full air ambulance like those connected to regional trauma hospitals. When used in this capacity it is an air pick-up and delivery for individuals that need urgent trauma care at a trauma hospital,” the sheriff’s office stated previously.
How was the sheriff’s office helicopter paid for?
The sheriff’s office paid $1.42 million helicopter, according to a January press release. The sheriff’s office funded the purchase by: $125,000 seized from drug dealers; a “one-time budget savings” of $575,000; and a contribution of $720,000 from personal injury attorney Dan Newlin.
Newlin also donated support equipment valued at $30,000.
Staly stated in January that the sheriff’s office helicopter would enhance emergency services for the county. He said the sheriff’s office has had to depend on other counties for help when Flagler County’s Fireflight was not available. Sometimes the helicopters would have to come from as far away as Seminole County. Sometimes other aircraft were not available.
Does Volusia Sheriff’s Office have helicopters?
Yes. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office has three helicopters. The copters were acquired in 2023 and 2024 for more than $19.58 million, according to a previous News-Journal story.
— Frank Fernandez covers courts and criminal justice in Volusia and Flagler counties for The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Flagler County Sheriff’s Office hires pilot for its helicopter
Reporting by Frank Fernandez, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Frank Fernandez, Daytona Beach News-Journal | USA TODAY Network
