| Sheriff advised against using county funds for pilot's license
Sheriff Bryan Backus says he would only fly aircraft for police work
wvgazette.com
CHARLESTON - Ritchie County Sheriff Bryan Backus disagrees with State Ethics Commissioners who advised him not to use money from the county's concealed weapons permit fund to pay for flight lessons and airplane rentals.
Backus had asked the State Ethics Commission if he could continue using surplus county money to earn his pilot's license, in hopes of one day manning a fixed-wing airplane for the sheriff's department.
Backus said he would fly an airplane to enforce traffic, eradicate illegal drugs and help with search and rescues. The airplane would also provide aerial surveillance while police conduct search warrants and conduct extraditions and transports, he said.
However the Commission issued an advisory opinion on Thursday, concluding that the sheriff's private gain would outweigh any public benefit from his license ...
Read rest of story Sheriff advised against using county funds for pilot's license by Travis Crum for the
Charleston Gazette | 
