King County buys $6.8 million helicopter for sheriff emergency response

(The Center Square) – The King County Sheriff’s Office is adding to its air support division with the acquisition of helicopter for nearly $7 million.

The helicopter, known as Guardian One, was purchased with $5.8 million in King County funds and an additional $1 million from the state Legislature.

According to the county, the helicopter allows the sheriff's office to respond to emergencies throughout the region within 20 minutes.

“[The Guardian One program] provides critical, life-saving resources in emergencies and helps law enforcement to carry out operations that lead to arrests and reduce crime,” King County Executive Dow Constantine said in a news release . “With strong support from our state and federal partners, along with county funding, this helicopter will serve as our primary air support aircraft for the next decade.”

The Guardian One helicopter will also be used to search for missing people and to locate robbery suspects and stolen vehicles.

The King County Sheriff’s Office’s current helicopter was first built in 1973. The new Guardian One will replace the 51-year-old helicopter.

According to a written request, the aged helicopter faced diminished lift capacity on hot days. In addition, the aircraft's stability and lift capacity were waning, as was its ability to hoist multiple subjects.

More than 70 law enforcement agencies across local, state, and federal departments wrote state lawmakers about a need for a new aircraft to modernize the King County Sheriff’s Office’s Air Support Unit.

According to King County, the Air Support Unit flew more than 480 missions last year. So far in 2024, the unit has flown 300-plus missions and assisted other agencies on over 65 occasions.

Back in June, the King County Sheriff’s Office boosted its air support unit’s response to wildfires with the purchase of two firefighting buckets . The two heavy-duty water buckets cost a combined $56,987.