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The silent auction is a mainstay of charity campaigns. High bidders can buy everything from jewelry to a day on the golf course to prime seats at a Rockets game.

KHOU

The highest bidder can win a ride on an HPD helicopter.

The City of Houston is hoping an online auction will help raise cash for its combined municipal campaign -- cash that will go to outside, non-profit charities.

More than 200 items are being auctioned to benefit CMC charities.

City departments are asked to donate items like a round of golf with the department head or a tasty firehouse meal.

Then there is HPD's contribution: How would you like to take a spin around the city -- way above the city?

The current bid for a ride-along in one of the HPD choppers is $150.

11 News has reported trouble with HPD helicopters in recent years: S everal emergency landings all over the city and a spotty safety record that even required the chief's attention.

"It is inherently unsafe to drive sometimes depending on traffic," said HPD Capt. Dwayne Ready. "So you can always make that argument depending on what you are doing. But we wouldn't have them in the air unless we thought they were safe."

So is it going to cost you as a taxpayer to raise a few hundred dollars for charity?

"The helicopter that will be used will actually be in service at that time, too," said Capt. Ready. "This is not something where we are taking the helicopter or the pilot out of service to do. So if there is a chase or a call from a patrol officer so have the helicopter check by, the helicopter will be checking by and performing actual police services."

Just with an extra set of eyes on a real-life thrill ride.

Last year, city employees gave more than $550,000 to help those less fortunate.