For body scanner, new panic system

Sequoyah County Commissioners approved two major purchases submitted by the sheriff’s office Monday along with other items included on the agenda.

The commissioners approved a $125,000 to purchase a body scanner X-Ray Machine for the detention center (Sequoyah County Jail) and a panic alarm system (panic buttons) for all the county offices located within the Sequoyah County Courthouse.

The 1X SOTER RS Full Body Security Scanning System will include one tablet and new ATD-Eagle Eye Software. The machine will include a five year warranty and can be delivered and installed in less than a month, according to Sequoyah County Sheriff Larry Lane.

Lane said with the changes in the law when it comes to “dealing” with inmates and it is now “unlawful” to strip search incoming inmates.

“Therefore this has caused an increase in contraband coming into county jails. Inmates are overdosing while in the county jail, then in turn, they file lawsuits against the county jails for allowing them to overdose. We hope to be the fourth only county jail in our state to add an X-ray body scanner to the booking and intake process. This scanner will detect and identify any foreign objects or substances that a person may have on or in their bodies,” Lane said. “Therefore we can take steps to remove the object or substances before they enter the jail.”

Sequoyah County Undersheriff Charles House said there are times when new inmates have been known to hide narcotics on their person and distributing narcotics such as Fentanyl can be fatal and can lead to lawsuits.

The commissioners agreed the body scanner would prevent the possibility of lawsuits and save the county some money in the long run.

The commissioners also approved the purchase of a panic alarm system for the county offices which will cost $13,225 to replace the old alarm system which dates back to about 2008, according to commissioners. The amount would include 20 panic buttons for the offices at the court house, the election board office and 911, according to a representative for Secure Tech which was awarded the purchase.

He said the new system would not go off accidentally, which according to some county officials, said has happened before. One person said the button fell to the floor when someone accidentally brushed against it. The new system requires a person to push the button for half a second before it goes off.

Lane said the current system was installed nearly 20 years ago and some of the buttons do not work and the entire system is outdated.

“We have a proposal from Secure Tech which is the same company which installed the current system,” he said.

Lane said while the sheriff is responsible for courthouse security, our courthouse security account is currently very under-funded, a year ago we averaged about $16,000 a month deposits from the court clerk’s office, from fees and fines. A portion of this money is allocated to courthouse security but over the past year or so, our deposits from the court clerk have dropped dramatically to the point of not having enough of a deposit to even pay the salary of our courthouse security deputy,” Lane said.

“Therefore, I ask the Board of County Commissioners to assist with the purchase of the new alarm system.”

In other business, the commissioners approved an annual cooperative agreement with USDA-APHIS Wildlife which provides trapping services for animals such as beavers and wild hogs which can be a nuisance to the community.

They also approved a Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Subrogation Agreement between EODD and the Town of Gans for bridge and road work.

Approved also was a Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Agreement for Voluntary Cooperation and Operational Assistance by and between Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Sallisaw which is signed annually between the two entities.

Commissioners also approved to sign title sheet on Indian Road Restoration project in District 2 “to get the ball rolling” one commissioner stated, and get the wash out, damages from the recent flood, repaired.

Other items approved were transfer of appropriations from maintenance and operations to T8 Capital Outlay for District 1 in the amount of $18,000; and an approval to surplus an Ex-cell Pressure Washer for Sequoyah County District 1.

SEQUOYAH COUNTY TIMES 111 N. Oak  Sallisaw OK  74955

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