FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - The Broward County Commission approved a $15 million allocation to purchase a new state-of-the art helicopter for the the Broward Sheriff’s Office after a tragic crash in Pompano Beach killed two people.
7News spoke with Broward County Mayor Lamar Fisher, who outlined where the money to purchase the helicopter will come from.
“It’s coming from two different areas: one from 2023 reserves and a part of another million and change coming from another reserve account,” said Fisher, “but the dollars will be allocated tonight to buy the first helicopter.”
During Thursday evening’s budget meeting, the commission, in an 8-0 vote, approved the allocation of millions of dollars for the new chopper.
The fatal incident happened on Aug. 28 when a Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue helicopter crashed into an apartment complex in Pompano Beach. A resident at the complex, 65-year-old Lurean Wheaton, was killed, while 50-year-old Capt. Terryson Jackson, who was on board the chopper, died in the crash.
Jackson was posthumously promoted to the rank of Battalion Chief
The money will go toward a new twin-engine H145 that will be ready soon due to a contract that fell through with another client with the company Airbus.
Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony said Airbus officials told him two rescue choppers would be ready very soon.
“The blessing here is that Airbus does have two [helicopters] available. Normally it takes two or three years to get one,” said Fisher, “so they have two available, and we’re trying to work the second one in the best we can.”
The commission also discussed approving a killed-in-the-line-of-duty benefit for families of Broward County law enforcement and firefighters to receive $50,000 to assist with expenses.
“The intent would be is, if the board so chooses, that we would make whatever program immediately retroactive to accommodate the unfortunate accident that happened last week,” said Broward County Administrator Monica Cepero.
“We wanted to make sure to give those additional dollars available, and that family can use those dollars, whether it be funeral arrangements, or whether it be education, whether it be paying rent or house payments,” said Fisher. “We want to get it to them immediately, so they have that in hand.”
County officials also thanked BSO for paying for the funerals and expenses for both Jackson and Wheaton.
“I just want to also make note and thank Sheriff Tony and the Broward Sheriff’s Office for their generosity to pay for Ms. Wheaton’s funeral arrangements,” said Fisher. “They stepped in, and they did that.”
The budget meeting to discuss and approve the $15 million allocation for BSO to purchase the new helicopter started at 5 p.m.
Tony said he received a commitment from Fisher that the county would secure a contract for two brand-new state-of-the-art helicopters.
In the past, Tony has met with the Broward County Commission to speak about the department’s budget. During a workshop on June 8, Tony specifically talked about BSO’s aging aviation fleet and potential issues.
Jackson will be laid to rest following an early morning service in Pompano Beach on Friday. The procession is scheduled to leave the funeral home at 8:45 a.m. It will wind its way through several Broward cities before arriving at its final resting place in Sunrise. It is expected to cause occasional delays during the morning commute.
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