Kilgore jail facility undergoes changes

Nearly four months after Texas Rangers began investigating the suicide of a Kilgore inmate, Ronnie Moore, Kilgore director of public safety, says the city holding facility has undergone some changes.

The holding facility had claimed as many as four other lives before William Ray Parker, 22, of Kilgore, was found hanged with a necktie on Aug. 19.

At the time of Parker's suicide Moore said jumpsuits were likely the next step Kilgore would take toward the resolution of the suicide problem. Now all inmates held at the facility since the last suicide are stripped of their clothing and accessories — including belts, shoe laces and neckties — and outfitted with a jumpsuit.

Other precautions in use at the facility include special suicide deterrent blankets and smocks, which are used by inmates thought or known to be a suicide threat. The smocks and blankets are too bulky to fit through crevices that regular clothing and blankets would; the materials are quilted and tear-resistant, so inmates cannot piece out the articles to make smaller suicide devices; and the bulk is too weighty for strangulation.

When Moore took ideas to either rebuild the jail or transport inmates to Gregg County Jail before city council, members were hesitant to make any abrupt decisions and asked Moore to hire jailers and conduct a study of holding facility operations.

Since August, Kilgore Police Department has hired two fulltime jailers, but Moore said the department needs two more. Of the two jailers, one has been trained and certified; the other is slated to begin certification classes in January.

Four jailers will cost the city approximately $200,000 to $210,000 annually for the added employees, based on "competitive" wages and benefits. Those same jailers could aloso be used as transport and booking officers for inmates held at Gregg County Jail, Moore said, adding that he is of the opinion the best option for the city, in the long run, is to consider the contract option with the county.

According to Moore, Maxey Cerliano, Gregg County sheriff, has quoted the city a rate of $39.75 per inmate per day.

Moore said the cost would fluctuate with the number of inmates, but could come close to another $95,000 annually.

He said the reason the city would require additional personnel for transport is that travel to Longview, inmate booking procedures and travel back to Kilgore could potentially strip the city of certified police officers if they were used in that capacity. Moore said another reason to hire jailers for transport is that additional police would require a higher rate of pay and that police are not certified in inmate management.

According to Moore, the facility is intended to temporarily hold inmates for 72 to 96 hours. Any time beyond that is spent at Gregg County Jail.

Jeff Howell, city manager, said for now that constructing a city jail facility is off the table and the city will continue to hire jailers and monitor operations until city council members give further direction.

Moore said of the 1,500 inmates booked annually, the majority of inmates secured in Kilgore are incarcerated on Class C misdemeanors. Approximately 600 are in for more serious misdemeanor offenses or felonies.

The council has also asked Moore to compile more information costs to construct a new facility. He said he expects to update the council in March 2009.