5-Mar-2012 Source: Press Telegram
The EC130s were bought in 2001 for $5.76 million and went into service the following December. Police purchased two replacement AS350B-2 in February 2011 for $3.52 million from the Los Angeles County Sheriff. The acquisition was intended to reduce operating costs by 42 percent – from $768 per hour to $448, according to a staff report (see full report)