Sheriff's Dept. pilot resigns while under investigation

<p>A Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department helicopter pilot under investigation for allegedly possessing an illegal assault weapon has resigned from the position he held for less than a year, much of it spent on paid suspension.</p><p>Emanuele “Manny” Tsikoudakis, 39, quit effective May 19, Capt. Matt McCaffrey confirmed.</p><p>Tsikoudakis, a civilian employee of the department, was hired in late 2008 and was still in his probationary period when he was put on leave in early 2009.</p><p>He was suspended when word reached sheriff’s supervisors about a possible illegal assault weapon he may have brought with him to the sheriff’s helicopter headquarters at the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport and fired it on duty with other helicopter team members.</p><p>Sheriff’s detectives, and later investigators from the District Attorney’s Office, were trying to determine whether Tsikoudakis or any other member of the helicopter squad violated any state or federal weapons laws.</p><p>In March, prosecutors said they would decide within a few weeks if any charges were warranted. Chief Deputy District Attorney Bill Brockley said Tsikoudakis was cited to appear. No further details were available.</p><p>McCaffrey said Tuesday that the criminal and internal investigations remain open. Sheriff’s deputies have turned over all of their investigative documents to prosecutors.</p><p>“As far as the investigation with him and the rest of the staff of the helicopter unit, it is still ongoing,” he said. </p><p>He declined to say whether any other members of the unit have been disciplined as a result of the probe.</p><p>Tsikoudakis didn’t return a phone message seeking comment.</p><p>Shortly after department supervisors learned of the existence of a possibly illegal gun, detectives seized it from Tsikoudakis’ residence.</p><p>An internal affairs investigation to determine if any county policies were violated is pending the completion of any criminal prosecution, McCaffrey said.</p><p>Sheriff’s officials would neither confirm nor deny accounts that Tsikoudakis and others flew the helicopter to other locations and fired the weapon while on duty. The helicopter costs $2,600 an hour to operate, including deputy salaries and other staffing costs.</p><p>A typical flight crew consists of a sworn deputy, called the “tactical flight officer,” a non-sworn paramedic and a non-sworn pilot. The unit consists of a sergeant, deputies, two pilots and one paramedic. The county positions of pilot and paramedic were created in 2008.</p><p>Tsikoudakis was hired last year to assist another pilot, who remains on the job. The current job opening, which pays between $77,000 and $94,000 a year, was posted June 10.</p><p>California has several laws regarding illegal assault weapons, violations of which can be filed as misdemeanors or felonies. An assault weapon can be a rifle, pistol or shotgun of any caliber and can be deemed illegal depending on various factors, including its make, model, magazine capacity or firing characteristics.</p>