Will County Sheriff’s Office Hopes to Add a Helicopter to the Department’s Fleet

The Will County Sheriff's Office reportedly wants to add a helicopter to the fleet of the department, according to a report from March 14. Residents of Joliet might begin to see this helicopter frequently flying over the area within the next couple of years.

"We do have several drones that we operate," Chief Deputy Sheriff Dan Jungles told Joliet Patch, "This would be just on a much grander scale as the technology of a helicopter far exceeds that of a drone. With the equipment they have on these helicopters now, you can lock onto a moving car from miles away.”

To get the first helicopter for the department, there are still many details to be resolved. In order to create a new police helicopter for Will County, the sheriff's office is now collaborating with Bell, one of the top businesses in the country that offers safety operators all over the world.

According to Jungles, the Will County Sheriff's helicopter will be used for patrolling and looking for wanted criminal offenders if they are able to get it. Along with aiding in chases on the interstates and the search for missing persons.

"I think all the area police departments in the county, and even state agencies and federal agencies would benefit, if we were to get this,” Jungles added, “We're in the infancy stages of exploring the possibility of getting this. Nothing is set in stone.”

For more information about Bell and what it offers, visit www.bellflight.com.