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26 <br /> said that each post will require about 2.4 full time equivalents for every 12-hour shift <br /> requirement. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he recalled a discussion of the need for new personnel when <br /> the new facility was being built and asked the Sheriff to describe the conversation. <br /> Sheriff Blackwood said the entire facility is now more secure and efficient compared to <br /> the previous design. He said that the operation of a detention center requires more people <br /> because there are more stations. <br /> Commissioner McKee asked if more personnel are needed to transport the inmates. <br /> Sheriff Blackwood said yes and that transport teams within the facility and transport <br /> teams outside the facility for transport to courthouse have been created for that. <br /> Commissioner McKee asked if the number would get them operational efficiency <br /> regarding safety of the inmates and safety of the personnel. <br /> Sheriff Blackwood said yes. He said they have met with both managers and the person <br /> that did the study. He said he expressed concern with adding 31 employees. He said that <br /> reducing it below fifteen would be catastrophic. He said that he will try it, and the command staff <br /> have visited the detention center every day. He said they have had roundtable discussions <br /> within the detention center to determine peak times and when additional personnel might be <br /> needed. He said that his patrol staff are not detention certified so they need to be cautious. <br /> Commissioner McKee said that goes to his concern about fifteen not being enough <br /> because they have had a very good record of not having major incidents and he wants to staff <br /> at a level to continue that. <br /> Sheriff Blackwood said that he is a co-chair of the Governor's Crime Commission and in <br /> 2017 they commissioned a study of prisons across the nation. He said that the most <br /> outstanding takeaway from the study was that adequate staff and leadership must be strong — <br /> therefore investment in personnel must come first and effectiveness is not guaranteed without <br /> trained staff. <br /> Commissioner Richards encouraged the other commissioners to visit the detention <br /> center. She said that seeing it made her better aware of the needs. <br /> Commissioner McKee also encourage commissioners to visit the old detention center for <br /> context. <br /> Sheriff Blackwood said it is a complete transition from the old one. He said that he has <br /> been in this business for 42 years and the detention center is the best thing to have happened <br /> to their department during that time. He said you see chairs and opportunities in the center and <br /> that he is very excited about that. He said that they have talked about building a garden where <br /> people could take pictures. <br /> Chair Price said there is judge's bench in the detention center and asked about <br /> transportation needs. <br /> Sheriff Blackwood said that they there are some requirements under the law that <br /> mandate certain inmates be taken to the courthouse, but they process as many as they can at <br /> the jail. <br />