BEDFORD – Lawrence County Sheriff Greg Day announced on Tuesday that a deal has been reached with Oolitic Town Marshal Ryan Duckett and town officials to acquire a 2022 Dodge Durango canine cruiser for $33,000.
Sheriff Day emphasized the cost efficiency of the purchase, stating, “A new canine unit would cost $65,000 if we purchased it new. The one in Oolitic is in great shape and has only 17,000 miles on it, and they are willing to sell it at half the price of a new one. They no longer need it because they don’t have a canine unit.”
Sheriff Greg Day has announced that the current communication provider for inmates, Securus Technologies, will be replaced by Combine Public Communications when the contract expires in October. The new service provider will offer improved services without increasing the cost to inmates or their families.
Sheriff Day assured that there will be no price increase for inmates or families. The new service will charge per minute, unlike the previous service, which charged families 20 cents per minute for a 20-minute session with no refund if the full time frame was not used. In addition, inmates will be provided with a device for texting or “chirping” with family members, as well as a tablet for entertainment purposes, including games and movies that they can purchase.
Due to US Postal Service changes, now to mail a package of 13 ounces or more the package must include a bar code.
“That will increase our current postal contract by $3 a month,” he added.
Sheriff Day requested to amend the department’s current contract to include the fee.
As of this morning, the jail housed 86 inmates, including 75 males, 11 females, four Department of Correction holds, two parole holds, and four Level 6 felons, according to Sheriff Day.
