Hamilton County Sheriff Simon Leis wants to add a $500,000 airplane to his fleet of two helicopters.

        Mr. Leis has sent a letter to county administrators saying an airplane to transport fugitives would save the county money in the long run and be safer.

        The sheriff said he is scouting for possible planes and has priced a Beech Baron piston twin-engine with a pressurized cabin.

        The sheriff's department has made more than 395 trips with prisoners this year — 244 of which were out of state.

        “We've been studying this for some time,” the sheriff said Wednesday.

        It makes sense to County Administrator Dave Krings.

        Mr. Krings said an opinion by the Ohio's Attorney General's Office prohibits signing contracts to transport prisoners. That decision has since been reversed, but restrictions on transportation companies have doubled the cost.

        “The costs have gone up to such a degree that a county-owned airplane may save us money,” Mr. Krings said.

        There is no budget request pending before county commissioners, who will approve the 2002 budget in two weeks. Suzanne Burke, the county's budget director, said the sheriff could pay for the airplane from a drug forfeiture account he controls.

        Mr. Leis said he might partner with other counties on the purchase of the airplane.

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