County building security asks for needed equipment upgrades

Jul. 16—The security team at the Cass County Government building, which includes the courtrooms, is having equipment problems.

At Friday's Cass County Council meeting, new Security Director Kim Felton asked for $70,000 to take care of those problems, which include equipment that doesn't function anymore, devices that are old and don't always function right and items that security just never had enough of — including duty handguns and walkie-talkies.

Felton had the backing of both Cass County Sheriff Ed Schroder and Cass County Commissioners President Ryan Browning at the meeting.

Browning told the council members that when they hired Felton, he asked her to take inventory and see what security needs. The list is her doing the job requested.

Felton asked council members that these items be addressed now instead of in the 2022 budget.

Schroder agreed and said, "these are updates that they need."

For the building entrance, security has stopped using the walk-through scanner because it no longer works, said Felton.

The handheld metal detector and X-ray machine do not always work because of age. Most purses, briefcases and other items sent through require hand searches due to the faulty equipment.

For the officers individually, Felton asked for four radios with a lapel microphone, chargers and a current operating system.

Security currently has two working ones and one that just scans, she said.

Browning added that security cannot use the current radios to contact the county's 911 Central Dispatch.

Felton asked for four tasers for the guards because they only have lethal force weapons and an obsolete taser, which the guards don't use because its battery only charges to 59%, and replacement parts aren't made anymore.

She also asked for seven duty handguns with holsters, ammunition and extra magazines for her staff because some of the officers use personal weapons now.

So if they use their weapon, it gets confiscated for evidence and they need to find a new one.

For security officers who are also Logansport officers, Logansport Police Chief Travis Yike doesn't want them using their duty weapons on security because if they're confiscated as evidence, he's responsible for replacing them.

Schroder said he's ordered three firearms for the security team because they're part of a responsibility of his department.

"They get their police authority through special deputization," he said.

They would also not need the extra weapons if one is confiscated because he'll take care of that if it happens.

Schroder will check into whether he can get the same low price for tasers that he got for an order of 20 the department made last year.

Councilman Bruce Ide asked about the new body scanner in the jail, but Schroder said the "magnetometer" style that the building security has always used is less expensive, faster and just looks for weapons, which is their goal.

Council President Brian Reed said that council will address the matter at its September meeting and there's a chance for the county commissioners to use federal COVID-19 pandemic money for at least part of the expense.

But he supported the improvements.

"We're either going to have security or we're not," Reed said.

Also at the meeting, Browning requested a 5% raise for county employees in community corrections, 911 dispatch and the Cass County Jail.

The request is for the 2022 fiscal year.

The raises are "so we can retain employees and stop being a training ground," Browning said.

All these positions have a high turnover rate and consistent vacancies.

A woman who' d been with Cass County Dispatch for 20 years left because she gets paid $10,000 more in another place, Browning said.

Reach James D. Wolf Jr. at james.wolf@pharostribune.com or 574-732-5117

Twitter @JamesDWolfJr