A new piece of technological equipment that will protect the safety of both staff and inmates alike and heighten security at the Logan County Jail was just installed in the last week, following several years in the making for this important endeavor.
Logan County Sheriff Randy Dodds and Jail Administrator Lt. Adam Fullerton were excited Friday to unveil a Tek84 Intercept body scanner system at the 284 S. County Road 32 facility that can detect contraband on incoming inmates, such as illegal drugs and weapons, whether the items are concealed externally or internally in body cavities. The scanners are similar to ones used at airports by the Transportation Security Administration, and are utilized at a number of other correctional facilities in the local area as well.
“We’re thrilled that this day is here that we finally have this in place,” Sheriff Dodds said. “It is thanks to a lot of research, starting with former Jail Administrator Lt. Greg Fitzpatrick, and the generous assistance of the Logan County Commissioners that we have this scanner today.
“Criminals have become more creative in the ways that they try to smuggle contraband into the jail, so we have to take any steps necessary to put an end to that. While this isn’t a stop all, it will catch just about anything they try to bring in.
“It provides a better sense of security for the inmates and our staff; there is less of a chance anyone being harmed by illegal contraband. There is really no price that we can put on that.”
The Tek84 Intercept model that was delivered from San Diego was purchased for $164,000 with a five-year warranty, the sheriff said. The Logan County Commissioners made the purchase with federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act dollars, as the machinery provides a less invasive way for corrections officers to perform intake work during the time of the pandemic.
Earlier this year, Lt. Fullerton related that the office was saving funds for the machine through an effort to house a number of inmates from Marion County at the Logan County Jail, which added up to a payment of approximately $86,000 from Marion County. These funds were incorporated into the office’s general fund.
The jail administrator said other facilities that utilize the body scanning machines — including at the Tri-County Jail and Shelby County Jail — have seen a large drop in the inmates who attempt to convey illegal drugs or other contraband into their facilities.
“It is an excellent deterrent. Just with word getting around that a facility has this equipment, it helps our cause and increases safety tremendously. People know they are likely to get caught,” Lt. Fullerton said.
A body scan with the machine will now be a part of the regular booking process, and also will be used when inmates return to the building on special details, such as to the Logan County Solid Waste Management District each week and while working outdoors on the grounds of the sheriff’s office.
When a person is standing on the platform for the machine, a photo of their face is generated along with the X-ray to create a profile for that individual. The scan only takes four seconds, and then results are generated quickly on a computer screen in an adjacent room for a corrections officer to review.
Fortunately with this newer model as well, it emits low levels of X-rays, so that an individual could potentially be scanned several times a day with no harm. Older machines could only process individuals several times a year because of the higher levels of X-rays emitted from those machines, Lt. Fullerton said.
Since the machine’s arrival, it has been inspected by a physicist and will be inspected by health officials before it is put to use. Corrections officers also will be trained on the scanner in two weeks, the jail administrator said.