"Normally, we register our aircraft in sequence, so
that Star 5 was registered as 255SD -– "SD' for 'Sheriff's
Department' -- Star 6 was 266SD, and so forth. However, we asked
and received permission to register our new Star 8 as 288JK; JK
standing for Joe and Kevin. It allows us to say that Joe and Kevin
are onboard for every flight."
Source: Sacramento County Sheriffs Department
Air Support Bureau commander Lt. Fred Links, on the department's
purchase of a new Eurocopter EC120 to replace an aircraft lost in a
July 2005 accident. The helo's registry honors the two officers
lost in that accident -- SCSD Deputies Joseph Kievernagel and Kevin
Blount.