RELATED : Clark County drug bust nets 1 pound of fentanyl, meth and cash
The Clark County Jail is outdated, Holt said.
“We need a new jail camera system. There is some equipment from the 1980s,” Holt said.
The sheriff’s office also needs a full body scanner Holt said. In 2016, there was one overdose. A body scanner could possibly have prevented that, Holt said. Deputies do partial body searches of inmates.
Burchett said the only time deputies can do a full body search is when a person has been sentenced to prison.
Holt told Rotary members were told that the jail’s medical system needs updating and there needs to be coordination between medical health and drug treatment.
“We want a mental health therapist there every day,” Burchett said. “I will be quite frank and quite honest with you, there will be some that we will never be able to help.”
Burchett also said her office will not be able to clear drugs from the county completely but they can make a dent in them.
The office has added a new vehicle paid for by drug forfeiture money — funds confiscated from drug dealers when they are arrested, according to Burchett. This type of money was taken from drug dealers upon their arrest.
The new vehicle is assigned to a uniform patrol officer who only makes traffic stops. Burchett said she is proud of the black and gray ‘ghosted” unit bearing the words “Courtesy of your local drug dealers.”
RELATED : Clark County sheriff to do internal investigation in deputy shooting
“Every day, we are out there, doing our best. Doing what the community wants us to do,” Burchett said.
Another need for the Clark County Sheriff’s Office is personnel, Holt said.
In addition to the sheriff, the office has, one chief deputy, three majors, four lieutenants, 16 sergeants, 105 deputies and 34 civilian support staff employees for four divisions for four divisions — criminal investigations, professional standards, jail and uniform patrol division.
About the Author