Secondarily, aren't we hoping

to reduce the number of high-speed chases after that horrible disaster

in Peachtree City last month? Does a helicopter reduce the risk of injury

or shorten the duration of high-speed chases? Does it increase the safety

of the citizens? Will good judgment be exercised in its use?

As for eradicating marijuana

from the county, is the Sheriff's Department planning to use the helicopter

to find fields growing within our county, or to provide air support during

arrests? Perhaps it will discourage wrongdoers from jumping in their cars

and driving away rapidly when they see the blue lights approaching their

residences. Perhaps a Sheriff's helicopter will scare them all enough

to move to another community and take their criminal ways with them.

This hasty purchase has that

feel of "Ooh, a new gadget and a bargain too!" I hope the commissioners

ask some very serious questions that go beyond how much it costs to operate

a helicopter to measuring the real benefits to the citizens of the county.

If the benefits are clearly

demonstrated, keep the helicopter, and pay for the upkeep. But if not,

please paste a "For Sale" sign on that thing and get our money

back. And don't send good money after bad.

Mary Barranti

Peachtree City

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