Probation office to add panic buttons and cameras; county expands publicly supplied naloxone boxes
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Summary
Probation staff described recent security concerns and won approval for panic-button and camera contracts designed to notify dispatch and provide visual context; county harm-reduction partners described placing 15 naloxone boxes around the county funded by opioid-settlement and partner grants.
Probation staff described a recent incident that prompted a proposal for silent panic buttons at probation desks and additional cameras to cover the lobby and intake rooms. The proposal included one-time installation costs and ongoing cellular fees for connectivity; the total installation figures discussed were split between probation and county maintenance budgets.
On the cameras, staff said they do not plan 24/7 live monitoring but will provide access to video when an incident is triggered or when first responders need to view footage. A commissioner asked whether the cameras would be monitored; staff replied they would be accessed as needed rather than continuously viewed.
The board approved both contracts for panic buttons and lobby/intake cameras by voice vote. No commissioner requested delay for further study; staff said they would work out monitoring and access with dispatch and IT.
Separately, a public-health presenter described a county-wide harm-reduction program that has placed 15 naloxone (Narcan) distribution boxes at community sites — including Mulberry, Rossville, Forest, Kirkland, Michigan Town, WIC, IU Health-affiliated sites and park locations — at no cost to the county. The presenter said the boxes are supplied through opioid-settlement funds, IU Health, and Overdose Lifeline; a harm-reduction outreach team checks boxes 3–4 times per week and refills them if stock runs low. Typical stocking is three to five doses per box.
Commissioners thanked Healthy Communities and partners for coordinating naloxone distribution and acknowledged that installation locations have trade-offs (outside exposure versus indoor vestibule placement). The board did not set new county policy but approved the safety equipment contracts and encouraged staff to finalize installation and dispatch-access procedures.
The most immediate steps are vendor scheduling for panic-button installation, camera placement with IT and dispatch coordination, and continuing outreach to confirm naloxone box locations and maintenance procedures.