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TUCSON - The Pima County Sheriff's Department expects a new helicopter to be full operations by fall of next year - this will replace a helicopter that crashed in January of this year.

PCSD officials say that on September 13, the Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of an American Eurocopter helicopter. The department can now move forward on acquiring the helicopter, using funds from insurance reimbursement, grants and RICO funds.

PCSD officials say they expect delivery of the new helicopter by March 31, 2012, and expects it to be fully operational by fall of 2012.

The sheriff's department plans to expand the helicopter's mission to include Search and Rescue efforts, tactical operations and all border-related operations.

On January 31 of this year, pilot Loren Leonberger died and three passengers were injured when a PCSD helicopter crashed near Avra Valley while scouting for a new radio tower.

Pictured: The PCSD helicopter that crashed near Avra Valley earlier this year.