Copter Ride Shoots Down Sheriff’s Aide

A special assistant to San Diego County Sheriff Jim Roache was fired Tuesday, effective Jan. 1, after an internal affairs investigation revealed that the employee flew female inmates on a helicopter tour without authorization.

Jimmy Wilkins, who was also fired by former Sheriff John Duffy, was placed under investigation Oct. 1, when Roache learned that he had asked a pilot to fly three inmates from the Las Colinas Jail in Santee on a tour from Gillespie Field in El Cajon.

“The use of this helicopter for this purpose was directly and totally contrary to department policy,” Roache said in a statement. “On behalf of this department, I apologize for this misuse of public assets. The decision to discontinue Mr. Wilkins’ employment is based on a combination of this incident and other factors which I weighed.”

Roache did not describe the “other factors,” but department sources said Wilkins allegedly ordered a helicopter pilot to take him, his girlfriend and his girlfriend’s hairdresser on a flight over sheriff’s headquarters. He also allegedly took female inmates to a fast-food restaurant for ice cream, sources said.

Wilkins, a civilian employee, was placed in charge of inmates who worked cleanup details at sheriff’s headquarters. Wilkins also coordinated the planning of the National Sheriff’s Assn. conference this year in San Diego. He could not be reached for comment.

Internal affairs investigators reviewed “every allegation brought to the attention of internal affairs or the sheriff,” sheriff’s spokesman Dan Greenblat said in a statement. More than 58 former female inmates were interviewed, Greenblat said, plus department employees and members of the public.

Undersheriff Jay LaSuer and members of the helicopter program also were interviewed. Wilkins had said that LaSuer authorized the helicopter rides.

Roache directed the investigation and all results were reported directly to him, Greenblat said.

“The investigation revealed that the undersheriff did not express or imply permission to Mr. Wilkins to fly female inmates in a McDonnell-Douglas Hughes 500 sheriff’s helicopter,” Greenblat said.

No other details were released. Until Jan. 1, when he leaves, Wilkins will work an administrative post at sheriff’s headquarters.

Duffy said he fired Wilkins for lying about a work assignment. Wilkins, however, campaigned hard for Roache and was hired at the time the new sheriff took office.