By Associated Press
Washington, DC – An Alabama sheriff is getting a share of the Pentagon's free hand-me-downs. The list includes two helicopters for the Jefferson County sheriff's department. Sheriff Mike Hale said the aircraft would have cost taxpayers 800-thousand dollars each. He figures his department will have two air-worthy helicopters for only a fraction of that amount. Hale intends to use them to chase criminals and perform surveillance of the local airport and water plants. Cash-strapped law enforcement agencies are lining up to take advantage of the Pentagon's generosity. About 16 thousand departments obtained more than 380 thousand pieces of equipment in the 2005 budget year, according to an analysis of data provided by the Pentagon at the request of The Associated Press. The items, which include night-vision goggles, copy machines, helicopters and bulletproof vests, were worth nearly 124 (m) million dollars.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)