Helicopter drops ball, stirs up trouble

RIO RANCHO, N.M. (KRQE) - Albuquerque Police disciplined an APD Air One Supervisor who approved a flyover by the helicopter at the homecoming game at V. Sue Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho, New Mexico on Oct 1.

Video posted on YouTube shows the chopper dropping the football attached to a tiny parachute on the field then flying off during the game between Cleveland and Manzano high schools.

"We aren't happy it happened," said APD Commander Eric Garcia who oversees Air One. "It occurred, we can't go back in time but we have insured it won't happen again."

Garcia said he and others at APD had no idea the event had happened until several days later. When they learned of it, they ordered an internal investigation.

"We found a [Standard Operating Procedure] violation was committed and disciplinary action was imposed," sad Garcia. "Approval for this should have gone higher in the chain of command: myself, the deputy chief or chief and normally this would not have been approved."

Garcia said the request for the flyover was made by the Rio Rancho Police Department, an agency they work with quite often.

"I believe our supervisor felt it was good public relations campaign, and the request came from an assisting agency, and I think that is why he approved it," said Garcia.

While Garcia said Air One often assists Rio Rancho police with criminal cases, such as pursuits, or searching for missing people, it generally does not do community-based events in other cities.

APD estimates the cost of the flyover at less than $80 since the helicopter was already up during its normal patrol, but Garcia admits that it simply shouldn't have happened.

"Times are hard, and it doesn't send a good message to the public," said Garcia. "Yes, we probably could have used our resources in a better way, and that is why action has been taken and it will not occur again."

APD said its cannot reveal what discipline was taken against the supervisor until it goes through the appeals process because of requirements of the union contract.