Thursday, October 1, 2026
An aviation plan that could reshape rescue response times throughout Thurston County inched closer to takeoff.
The plan gained traction at the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners work session on Wednesday, Oct. 15, where Sheriff Derek Sanders walked through readiness steps, projected expenses and risk coverage for a surplus OH-58 Kiowa helicopter for the Thurston County Sheriff's Office.
The helicopter, acquired through the federal government's Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office (DRMO), entered Thurston County as a no-cost transfer after prior law enforcement service with North Carolina.
Sanders said an inspection of the helicopter is pending.
“They haven’t had a chance to actually pull the aircraft apart and examine all the mechanical aspects of it,” said Sanders, adding the process needs to be completed before flight authorization.
The OH-58 Kiowa, which is awaiting mechanical inspection at Northwest Helicopters in Tumwater, arrived fitted with installed avionics, a high-intensity light and high-angle skids.
Transport from North Carolina to Tumwater cost $15,000.
Annual insurance through Thurston County Risk Management was quoted between $12,000 and $15,000. The figures vary depending on pilot experience and flight hours.
Northwest Helicopters agreed to store the aircraft, provide maintenance under its Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certifications, and assist in flight operations. Ownership and liability vest with the county under its self-insurance program.
Two private donations of $19,000 and $17,000 were deposited in the Public Safety Sales Tax (PSST) fund pending creation of a separate aviation account for future contributions.
“We’ve got some high-level donors who are interested in seeing a program like this thrive and succeed,” Sanders said.
The board directed County Manager Leonard Hernandez to survey aviation donation account models and return with a recommendation.
Sanders said the helicopter plan would support search and rescue, marine response, missing person recovery, pursuit monitoring, K-9 tracking and disaster coordination, but would not be used for executive transport or protests.
Flights would stay within visual, flight rule daylight limits, pausing during thunderstorms or dense fog. Volunteer pilots with prior law enforcement or military flight backgrounds are expected to fly, while deputies complete observer and safety instruction at the Tumwater hangar.
Sanders contrasted the new aircraft’s efficiency with the county’s grounded rescue boat. Between 2021 and 2024, the sheriff's office handled 222 water rescue calls — 148 on Puget Sound, 23 on the Nisqually River and 51 on smaller waterways, including the Black and Chehalis basins. Marine rescue calls often lasted more than two hours and pulled two deputies off patrol duty.
The Integrity, the county’s enclosed rescue vessel, has been out of service for nearly three years following an engine failure. It burns 50 gallons of fuel per hour at $9 a gallon and requires about 45 minutes to reach Nisqually Reach from the Port of Olympia.
By comparison, the OH-58 Kiowa consumes 25 gallons per hour at $7 to $8 and can reach any point in Thurston County within 15 to 20 minutes. Sanders said the helicopter cuts both fuel and response costs by using half the fuel and arriving in minutes instead of hours.
To equip rescue operations, Northwest Helicopters plans to donate a Human External Cargo rope system worth $34,000 for aerial lift and extraction.
TCSO also received a FLIR thermal-imaging camera transferred from King County’s Guardian One and a $94,000 public safety radio to connect the aircraft to county dispatch and emergency management channels.
Beyond rescues, Sanders said the helicopter would help reduce pursuit risks and improve incident awareness. He mentioned a recent domestic violence kidnapping where the suspect's vehicle hit 145 miles per hour on Interstate 5. He said the pursuit had to be terminated for safety, adding air support would have allowed deputies to track the suspect without engagement.
He added drones run about 30 minutes, averaging speeds near 50 miles per hour at best, and cannot perform lift rescues, while fixed-wing aircraft require FAA-rated pilots and far higher budgets.
Emergency Services Director Ben Miller-Todd said the aircraft would improve county disaster documentation and reduce dependence on state or military air assets already assigned elsewhere.
“What we saw as an asset was trying to get situational awareness when we are responding to larger fires, when we’re responding to floods — two of our major hazards in the county. We struggle to get that aerial asset during flood season,” Miller-Todd said.
He said local air support would allow the county to capture real-time aerial views for Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement and speed response when outside aircraft are delayed for hours.
Commissioners also reviewed liability and insurance questions. The sheriff's office said volunteer pilots would receive special commissions so county insurance applies during missions. Routine maintenance would be funded through restricted accounts, while major parts, such as rotor blades or engines, could be sourced through the DRMO inventory.
Board Chair Tye Menser said drone systems cannot substitute for manned air response, adding that a helicopter would expand county coverage in hard to access areas.
“I see a lot of public safety value on the pursuit issue … this could really … save lives,” Menser said.
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jimlazar
This "free" helicopter will be the gift that keeps on taking.
First, a few thousand dollars to get it here. Then a few thousand dollars to get it running properly. Then tens of thousands of dollars for hangar, staffing, maintenance, repairs, and fuel.
Yes, there are times when I'd like to have a helicopter available, and I understand the Sheriff's desire for this aircraft. But helicopters cost about $1,000 per hour to operate, when all the costs are considered. Look in the future budgets for a six-figure annual cost for this.
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 Report this
Bobwubbena
Jim Lazar, your understanding of program costs, business management and providing informed input is like most economists—-theoretical and not based on personal real experience. You were paid as a consultant and did not pay for your failure to deliver to the bottom line —-while delivering on real life obligations. Just like your prior advice related to the Port—-many thoughts on one sided assessments but leaving out real life experience
Listen to your Sheriff. He presented a well researched assessment that will benefit our community.
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 Report this
chrispc2u
For all that’s mentioned in the article for use, that’s going to be one busy helicopter. Nice to see a local aviation company contributing. No mention of cost here however for the one or two pilots required to fly it.
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 Report this
ZenDog
Followed our son and his family up to Olympia from Southern California five years ago. One of the things I appreciate most is the quite from the sky. Down south there wasn't an hour that went by with out the sound of one if or three helicopters flying over. From chasing cars to reporting on anything else that would make the news. If there was an accident on the freeway there would be three or four helicopters hovering at the same time.
It would be sad if that happen here.
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 Report this
TheVirtualOne
I say give the Sheriff what he is asking for. My impression is he’s a thoughtful person in the trenches trying to help fight crime in our county, and not sitting behind a desk. He seems to be weighing the costs and benefits. If it will save lives and is not an unreasonable cost, I support it. It’s all the other wasteful spending that needs to stop. Look at the crap the City of Olympia and the Port spend our money on. Carbon specialists, sea level analysts, consultants on what to do about crime and homeless people on our streets, cranes that don’t work, DEI, and the list goes on. From my view, Sheriff Sanders is a nuts and bolts guy who gets things done and earns every penny he gets paid. We need more people like him in our city, county, state, and country.
Thursday, October 23, 2025 Report this
JW
I'd rather the county spend money on this than useless initiatives, departments, or payouts for unqualified commissioner's improprieties.
Thursday, October 23, 2025 Report this
Wesley
I love hericopters, and I love the Sheriff's Office having one, but who is paying $9 a gallon to fuel their boat?
Thursday, October 23, 2025 Report this
Wesley
Not used for protests? Now that Antifa has been designated a terrorist organization, we can expect to see federal helicopters over their protests/riots, so why not get the County involved? As a Thurston County resident, I expect air assets to be used used to keep me safe from radical, violent leftists.
Thursday, October 23, 2025 Report this
OlyPlease
Wesley, you sound like a sissy. The protesters aren't coming to your house. Go touch grass.
Friday, October 24, 2025 Report this
bonaro
Jimlazar is right. The associated costs for maintaining and operating this helicopter will become hugely expensive. I know because I watched it happen, 20-30 years ago the TC Sheriff had a helicopter, it was eventually surplused because it was too costly to operate. It's unfortunate we are incapable of learning from the past.
Then there is the broken rescue boat. I don't have direct knowledge but it seems the numbers are padded heavily. Regular gasoline does not cost $9 a gallon and a boat that size does not burn 50 gallons per hour. The more important question is: they didn't have the money to fix the boat so how will they support a heli? What happens to the boat...recycle?
Friday, October 24, 2025 Report this
ClownPenis88
helicopter will crash and the state judges and comissioners will still not enforce the RCW state laws against the career criminals. They give convicts phones and taplets in jail its a revolving door and a very corrupt justice system for there own needs at the expense of the taxpayers
Monday, October 27, 2025 Report this
Boatyarddog
Yes, Wesley is a SISSY.
ANTIFA? Terrorists, ?no That is a title reserved for the worst. Trump and MAGA fit that bill to a tee.
Terrorizing, women, children, doesn't matter who! Just Completely OFF his Rocker.
Were gonna get rid of the ******* sooner than later, he will cause it to happen by his own violations.
Saturday, November 1, 2025 Report this