Officials eye use of state helicopter at football game
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — State officials are investigating the use of a Department of Justice helicopter at a high school homecoming football game in Northern California.
KCRA-TV reported Thursday that top officials at the DOJ did not know the helicopter — usually flown for drug busts — was being used to hover over the game in El Dorado Hills.
The incident was caught on video and uploaded to YouTube. The station says it showed a DOJ agent dropping a football from the helicopter to his son, a player, on the field.
The cost to taxpayers for use of the chopper was between $900 and $1,300 for the stunt, not including the cost of personnel used to fly the aircraft.
Larry Wallace, director of law enforcement for the DOJ, said he will now personally approve any authorized use of the helicopter.
KCRA-TV reported Thursday that top officials at the DOJ did not know the helicopter — usually flown for drug busts — was being used to hover over the game in El Dorado Hills.
The incident was caught on video and uploaded to YouTube. The station says it showed a DOJ agent dropping a football from the helicopter to his son, a player, on the field.
The cost to taxpayers for use of the chopper was between $900 and $1,300 for the stunt, not including the cost of personnel used to fly the aircraft.
Larry Wallace, director of law enforcement for the DOJ, said he will now personally approve any authorized use of the helicopter.
Dad should pay every cent.
 @Melissa Angevine Agreed!
The DOJ agent who misappropriated the helicopter should pay for the use of it, along with the punishment of taking it unauthorized.
Law enforcement is all about community service, right? That made a positive impact on so many adults, teenagers and little tikes, making it well worth it.
Do the math people.... The cost of this stunt divided by Sacramento's tax paying citizens = less than a half cent per person. Yes, ladies and gents, a whole half cent. Gosh forbid all these people have to give up HALF A PENNY. Let me say that again.. .HALF A PENNY.Â
@BravesPackersCougzSounders If you have enough pennies they eventually add up to hundreds, thousands, and millions+. The bottom line is if everyone used the helicopter just anytime they wanted or for anything they wanted it may not be available for the use it was intended.
@BravesPackersCougzSounders Why should taxpayers have to pay for the DOJ agent's private stunt?
Only someone with a head four times the size of a normal human being, the kind of person who should not be in any kind of position of authority, would pull something like this. An example of the type of people who gravitate towards positions of authority.
The approximate cost to operate this helo for just one hour is 2 grand.Â
 @Nightshift Why is that? Is the fuel expensive?
Sounds like they know who to send the bill to.