Eddy County approves $165K body scanner for County Detention Center
A new body scanner for the Eddy County Detention Center could enhance security measures as administrators seek ways to keep illegal items out of the jail, according to Warden Billy Massingill.
Tuesday the Eddy County Board of County Commissioners approved $165,000 in funds to purchase an Intercept Body Scanner from California-based Tek84.
“It adds another layer of security,” said Massingill.
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In a memorandum to commissioners, he wrote the scanner is a safety precaution for detainees and Eddy County Detention Center (ECDC) staff.
“For the detection of weapons, drugs and other contraband in a matter of seconds,” Massingill noted to commissioners.
According to Tek84’s website, subjects are screened from the soles of feet to the top of the head, showing objects under clothing and within the body.
The scanner offers efficiency for jail personnel, read Tek84’s website.
“One staff member can screen up to 180 subjects per hour, while maintaining the COVID-safe distance of six feet between people,” noted Tek84.
In a proposal submitted to Eddy County, Tek84 highlighted the Intercept Body Scanner can find hidden contraband within four seconds of a search.
“The device will allow us to track each individual person coming in,” Massingill said. “It can identify anything before it gets into the jail.”
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He said ECDC has other contraband protocols including checking inbound mail for detainees along with a phone computer system that listens for certain key words during phone conversations that could mean potential entrance of illegal objects into ECDC.
“This is something that is very needed in your facility,” said District 5 Commissioner Sarah Cordova.
Massingill said the new scanner could be installed within the next two months. He said an official from Tek84 was set to survey ECDC this week for the new machine.
He said funds to purchase the new body scanner came from the inmate concession fund.
“No general funds are going to be used for this purchase,” Massingill wrote to commissioners.
“The original 2023/2024 budget was to lease/purchase the equipment, but with further review, we determined to purchase outright,” he noted in the memorandum.
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Eddy County approves 165K contraband body scanner for jail
