Yes, Virginia, the Fayette County Sheriff's Department does have a second helicopter.

During budget discussions Monday afternoon, Lt. Col Bruce Jordan was peppered with questions from the Fayette County Commission about the department's owning of a second helicopter.

Jordan told the board the sheriff's department indeed has a second chopper, on loan from the Georgia Emergency Management Association. There is no title on the copter, but it is registered with the FAA as belonging to the Sheriff's Department.

Jordan said the copter is mainly used for parts and has $5 million worth of liability insurance.

But the commissioners were not happy with the secrecy surrounding the new bird.

"It was in your possession last July and we're just now finding out about it. If there's an accident, we're liable," said Commissioner Linda Wells.

Jordan said the acrimony between his department and the board boiled down to one issue. "This whole problem can be solved if you communicate. I call y'all and you don't return my calls," he said.

But Herb Frady said the board was more than just Chairman Greg Dunn and Linda Wells.

"You can call me anytime. That's a cop-out," Frady said.

Jordan said Tuesday the second helicopter has not been used in any chases, and is mainly used for parts or training exercises.

"There's not even a radio in it to communicate with people on the ground," he said.

He also dismissed the notion that the county did not know about the second copter.

"They sent somebody around to inventory everything we have and they saw the copter," he said.