Sheriff reports steady operations, RSAT graduations and in-jail baptisms; jail population noted

The sheriff provided a multi-part departmental report that covered calls for service, jail population, training, a Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) graduation, and inmate baptisms.

The sheriff said annual calls for service total about 11,500 and reported the jail population had increased to 154. The sheriff and commissioners discussed available bed capacity; the transcript recorded confusion over exact available-bed counts, so the commission did not state a final number in the meeting.

The sheriff said four deputies recently attended week-long training in Meridian, Mississippi, focused on search-warrant planning, execution and safety; travel costs were covered by the sheriff's office except for a meal and fuel. The sheriff also announced the first "Pathways to Change" RSAT graduation on Tuesday, July 29 (as stated in the meeting), noting the program began with 10 participants and three remained to graduate (two males and one female).

Separately, the sheriff described a baptism event where detainees and several civilians asked to be baptized; staff accommodated the request and said 13 people were baptized in the jail's salad court using a garden hose and temporary arrangements. The sheriff emphasized attendance was voluntary. Commissioners thanked staff for providing programming and support services.