Stanislaus County approves the sale of Sheriff Department helicopter to Merced County
The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department received authorization this week to sell a mothballed air support unit helicopter to another agency.
In a consent item, the county Board of Supervisors declared the 1972 Bell Jet Ranger as surplus property and authorized Sheriff Jeff Dirkse to negotiate sale of the helicopter to Merced County.
The 52-year-old Jet Ranger aircraft is one of three helicopters in the Sheriff’s Department’s air support unit. It was essentially replaced two years ago when the Sheriff’s Department purchased and outfitted a 2014 Bell 407GXP helicopter.
“The Merced County sheriff has expressed interest in purchasing the (Jet Ranger) aircraft,” a sheriff staff report said. “The department is still in talks with Merced County but intends to move forward with the sale.”
The Bell Jet Ranger was recently appraised at $533,500. Dirkse’s staff report recommended selling the copter as-is for $400,000. The helicopter needs more than $150,000 in maintenance repairs, including an engine overhaul, the report said.
The repairs and maintenance would be Merced County’s responsibility.
Stanislaus County’s air support unit also features a 1979 Bell Long Ranger helicopter that was damaged in a hard landing at Modesto Airport in 2016. It was brought back into service after more than $1 million in repairs and improvements.
E.&.J Gallo Winery donated the 1972 Bell Jet Ranger in 2002, and it was upgraded using funding from the California Multi-Jurisdictional Methamphetamine Enforcement Team and Stanislaus Drug Enforcement Agency.
This story was originally published February 29, 2024 at 6:00 PM.
