MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. (WPMI) Despite a budget crunch last year, the Mobile County Sheriff's Office purchased an airplane.
The six-seater, single engine plane cost $340,000. That's not counting the yearly cost of fuel, maintenance and the price of renting hangar space at Brookley Field.
Local 15's John Dzenitis had a lot of questions for the sheriff. Namely, where did the money come from to buy the plane? And why didn't the sheriff's office bother to tell anyone about it?
We tracked the plane to find out where it's going. We found stops in Auburn, Montgomery and across the state lines into Biloxi and Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
"I'm here before you and telling you it's for law enforcement purposes. There's no joy riding going on, no personal trips being taken in it, or will be taken in it," said Sheriff Sam Cochran.
Thursday at 10 p.m. on Local 15 News, the Plane Truth: Why the sheriff said this isn't costing taxpayers a dime.
