Cook County Comm. Stanley Moore (D-4) presides over a Criminal Justice Committee meeting last week. [Livestream]

The Cook County Board of Commissioners on Thursday approved a contract to purchase a helicopter for the county sheriff’s office that has long been on Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart’s wish list. The county currently doesn’t have any helicopters for law enforcement.

The $11.3 million contract (24-3697) with the Fort Worth-based Bell Textron Inc. will provide a helicopter airframe and associated equipment. The contract was approved by the County Criminal Justice Committee on Wednesday. The contract will run from Aug. 1 through the end of July 2028.