Published: December 16, 2009 09:25 am      

Officer: jail security changes ‘big hassle’

Verden Police Officer Jeff Franklin spoke to the Grady County Commissioners on Monday about security changes at the Grady County Jail.

“It’s messed up. We can’t even go in and get our paperwork out of dispatch,” Franklin said. “If we’re arresting people with warrants out of Grady County, it shouldn’t be this big a hassle. You have to get a visitor pass just to book a prisoner.”

District 3 Commissioner Jack Porter said the jail was operating “pretty close to basic jail security.” He also said there was a Criminal Justice Authority meeting Monday evening and told Franklin he was welcome to attend and voice his concerns to the board.

Grady County Sheriff Art Kell said the jail authority has hired a consultant in order to become certified, which means additional security measures must be put in place.

“The first thing is security,” Kell said. “We have a lot of federal inmates and they’re paying the bills and making the jail prosperous. With so many people coming in and out, we don’t want inmates to walk out or to have access to information they shouldn’t have.”

Kell said officers are required to sign in so that they may be accounted for if there is a fire or emergency situation.

“My deputies have the same problem, but I haven’t heard too many complaints,” Kell said. “We’re just trying to get things right and in order and the Criminal Justice Authority is trying to work with other police agencies.”

Kell said officers must take all prisoners into the “Sally Port,” a new fenced security enclosure on the southwest side of the jail with tall chain-link fencing and razor wire on top, and close the gate behind them before they can let prisoners out of the vehicle.

They must also remove their guns and go through a secured door before booking prisoners.

If federal inmates are present, the officer must wait until they are out of the area before booking prisoners.

“Once it is certified, the jail will have a lot more clout and it will keep the Justice Department happy and keep us from getting in trouble with them,” Kell said.

Next, representatives from the Ninnekah Fire Department brought the board inventory lists of fire department equipment and said their ISO review was completed on Friday, Dec. 11. Grady County is preparing to take over the Ninnekah Fire Department, at its request. The board will further discuss the move at the Monday, Dec. 28 meeting.

Finally, the board accepted a bid from Joe Watt Auto Sales, Inc. of Vinita on the trade of a 2003 Hummer for two vehicles for the Grady County Sheriff’s Office. The cost of the vehicles was $27,598 minus $17,000 for the trade of a 2003 Crown Victoria, leaving a balance of $10,598.

Deputy Sheriff Gary Journeycake told the board the Hummer, which was donated to the sheriff’s office, is “inefficient and is not a practical vehicle to drive on the street,” and that his office will “try to phase out two cars a year and replace them with more efficient vehicles.”