Barton County Sheriff’s Office ups security with high-tech full-body scanner
BARTON COUNTY, Mo. — The Barton County Sheriff’s Office has a new way to keep contraband out of the county jail.
The goal? To not only help keep jail staff safe – but also the inmates.
“Definitely faster. And not only is it faster, it is also more effective because in even the old way we can’t see inside their bodies,” said Rachelle Dreyer, Barton Co. Jail Administrator.
The Barton County Sheriff’s Office has acquired a new addition to the county jail.
“This is our new Tek 84 Intercept full-body scanner. Any detainees that we bring into the jail or that are already incarcerated here come back from court anything like that we can stick them in this.”
This allows them to detect items hidden on or inside an inmate using an X-ray scan.
“This will help us eliminate or reduce the amount of hands-on physical contact we have to have with the with the inmates and plus, it helps us prevent any contraband or weapons from entering into our jail,” said Barton Co. Sheriff John Simpson.
Dreyer says its been a huge help.
“Sometimes you can’t have a female, you know, searching a male. And if there’s a female officer on it just makes it nicer or vice versa. So it’s better that way, too,” said Dreyer.
It was purchased through a grant from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
“This is a vital tool for safety, for our for our other detainees upstairs and for our jail staff,” said Sheriff Simpson.
Sheriff Simpson says the scanner isn’t the only new equipment for the jail.
“We’ve also purchased a three stall mobile shower, restroom trailer. It is due to be delivered either tomorrow or Monday. It is if we have to isolate any inmates for a year for COVID or any other sort of infectious disease, we can set them up outside.”
Plus, inflatable tents to house inmates so the rest of the jail is not contaminated.
“It just makes me proud to know that Barton County is receiving, new technology. And it’s not. It’s not costing the taxpayers any extra money. It’s tax money. They’ve already paid federal tax money coming back to Barton County,” said Sheriff Simpson.
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