In an exclusive interview with Las Vegas' 8 News NOW, Guns N' Roses guitarist DJ Ashba speaks for the first time about the helicopter ride that cost his friend and former police captain his job.

Metro Captain David O'Leary was demoted for arranging a ride on a department helicopter for the Guns N' Roses guitarist and Columbian actress Nathalia Henao on August 7th, 2013.

Ashba said he asked O'Leary where he could find a private helicopter to use for his proposal to his then girlfriend and was instead offered a ride in the police helicopter.

When news broke that a member of Guns N' Roses got the free ride, O'Leary's attorney said he was forced to resign by Metro.

A state board ruled on Friday, May 15th that O'Leary did not break rules and he should be reinstated with the department. That ruling is due to be appealed.

Check out the interview here.

Back in 2013, Ashba posted photos of the helicopter tour on social media. "That was the most incredible day of our life!!" the guitarist wrote on Instagram. "Special thx to the Las Vegas Police Dept. for the most amazing helicopter private tour over Vegas!"

Ashba gave a shout-out to Captain David O'Leary for setting up the tour. A police spokesman confirmed the internal investigation Sunday morning, although no details were released. But department officials were reportedly livid about the apparent misuse of the helicopter, especially in the wake of officer's death from a helicopter the previous month. David VanBuskirk, 36, a Search and Rescue officer, died during a late-night helicopter rescue of a hiker stranded on Mount Charleston. The office fell while being hoisted to the helicopter.

It's unclear how O'Leary, who oversees the department's Financial Crimes Bureau, arranged the tour for the 40-year-old rocker. Ashba, who joined the band in 2009, called O'Leary a "good friend" on Instagram.

Read more at Reviewjournal.com.