Johnny Manziel -- Cops Say Helicopter was Justified ... No Special Treatment

The Fort Worth Police Dept. says Johnny Manziel's celebrity status had NOTHING to do with the decision to send a chopper to look for him after an incident with his ex-GF this weekend.

As we previously reported, the FWPD says it used an Air One helicopter unit to search for Manziel -- after Colleen Crowley expressed concern for the QB's well-being.

Now, the FWPD says the actions it took "were no different from any other call."

Corporal Tracey Knight tells TMZ Sports, "The FWPD deploys all useful personnel or tools available to fully investigate any call, especially when there is a concern for the health or safety of a person - as expressed by the complainant in this incident."

Knight adds, "Air One is commonly deployed (weather and call priority permitting) to assist in the search for missing persons."

Cops say they eventually made contact with Manziel and determined he was "safe and in no danger."