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Knox County sheriff reports 86 inmates, K9 expansion and two-week jail security upgrade
Summary
Sheriff Dan Wacker and jail administrator James Crawford told commissioners the jail holds 86 people (10 women, 76 men), described plans to expand the K9 program to a fourth dog when funding allows, and outlined a planned $150,000 security automation upgrade expected to start next week and take about two weeks.
Sheriff Dan Wacker told the Knox County Board of Commissioners on May 28 that the jail’s current population is "86 with 10 females and 76 males in custody." He said May’s rolling average is about 88.16 and the first-quarter average was about 101, with a typical male length of stay of roughly 14 days.
The sheriff described activity in the department’s canine program and staffing plans. "Both of our officers, deputies, Ali Miller, with her canine partner, and deputy Brandon Feeney and his canine partner, Odin, were both certified and they're deployed to the street," Wacker said. He said the county currently has three canine teams and hopes to add a fourth once additional funding is available. The department is examining overnight-shift coverage and would assign the fourth dog to midnight–8 a.m. shifts when funded.
Jail administrator James Crawford addressed staffing and training. He said the county has trainees in the corrections training pipeline and that some new hires begin as civilian correctional staff and later pursue sworn certification. Crawford described academy timing and candidate funding: some recruits plan to use GI Bill benefits for academy tuition while the county pays them as civilian employees until they achieve state certification.
Crawford also outlined a planned security automation system (SAS) upgrade for the jail that the board previously funded. "This upgrade is critical for the operation of the jail," he said, and staff estimate a roughly two-week switchover starting next week. Crawford said contractors will take some systems offline during the switchover, requiring temporary use of brass keys and additional staff presence; that will increase overtime costs but should improve video evidence management and reduce local hard-drive storage needs.
The sheriff and jail staff discussed maintenance, vandalism and recoveries for damaged property. Crawford estimated reimbursements for damaged items run on the order of about $100 to $150 per month and said several incidents have been submitted to the prosecutor for possible charges.
The sheriff also said a small number of inmates remain housed out of county for treatment or concurrent sentences; those placements and associated costs are being tracked in a separate account. Wacker said some departmental vehicles need replacement and several have high mileage; replacements are being considered before the end of the year.
The commissioners did not take additional formal action on jail staffing or the SAS upgrade at the meeting; the upgrade proceeds under previously approved funding and scheduled procurement steps.
