Drugs in a Small Town Pt.2

Are there drugs in Brazil and is it getting worse? That is the answer I am seeking and I started my search by sitting down with Police Chief Dave Archer and Sheriff Mike Heaton. I wanted to know is the drug issue getting worse over the last 20 years and what is the cost to us, the taxpayer?

Sheriff Heaton was VERY forthcoming in the interview and very bluntly stated the cost of housing inmates, paying Officers and what the County has and doesn't have. Chief Archer was also equally as forthcoming and very straight with me about what our City is lacking in budget and where that applies (I was surprised to find out that).

So how I am choosing to do this is begin at the beginning I will breakdown what it costs us to incarcerate an inmate at the Justice Center and then how an Officer is brought on and the costs to just get them on the street. Lastly, I have a few observations I made while I was given the royal tour of that facility to share with you as well.

Let us start with a scenario that is common with drug offenders and that one is this: A drug offender is busted and decides they want to cut a deal. Firstly, neither the Police nor Sheriff has the right to make that deal. Sheriff Mike Heaton explains, "We do not have the right to make any deal with anyone. Only the Prosecutor has the right to accept that. If we go to the Prosecutor and tell him that this person provides credible information, then only the Prosecutor has the right to negotiate with the offender."

So now we have the offender being booked into the Justice Center. What is the average cost to the taxpayer for that process per offender? Sheriff Heaton was more than candid about that. I was shocked by the amount of money it truly does take to not only feed and house an inmate, but the amount of paperwork that goes with the process. When I say paperwork, it would be best served to think "personnel hours."

Justice Center Procedure:

Now, regarding food served within the Justice Center. I was surprised to find out that the JC has a part-time Dietician that must be employed on the staff to supervise and plan all meals. They know the exact fat count, carbohydrate count and provide the best, most nutritional meals afforded on budget.

I want you to consider for a moment the cost. Firstly, you have the salaries of the Officer on the beat that makes the arrest. Second, the JC Officers that does the search and intake process and thirdly, the Nurse on Staff who provides the medical evaluation along with the Kitchen Staff. So roughly speaking you can take all just those base salaries required. Those base salaries are surprising low. Two Officers, One Nurse, One Dietician and a Cook's salaries equal less than $150,000.00 a year. That's right folks, an Officer, Cook, Dietician and a Nurse make less than a first year teacher with a Master's degree. If you have ever wondered just exactly how much an Officer's starting salary is, it's approximately $28,000.00. How many of you make more than that? A majority of us and I ask you as well, are you willing to put your life on the line everyday to earn that?

COUNTY: To summarize, Offender before they ever get into the main pod area of the jail costs the taxpayer:

$30.00 for intake process

$15.00 for food

$50.00 electricity

$10.00 water

$25.00 basic health evaluation

I haven't mentioned the large increase that can occur when an offender has special health issues because BY LAW the JC MUST maintain an offenders health and safety. In other words, if an inmate comes in with a prior medical condition, the JC must make sure that offender is given all the proper medicines to maintain or CURE the health issue. This includes diabetic supplies, heart medicines or any other health related supplies that the offender might need. (Did you notice the word might? Yes, they have to plan ahead as well) If the offender is a drug addict and begins to go into withdrawal, they must be able to provide that addict with all necessary medicines and care in house that addict may need 24/7 while going through the withdrawal process.

So let's do the math, when I toured the JC there were 96 inmates in house and one being booked in, for a total of 97. 130.00 x 97 = $12,610.00 total taxpayer cost JUST to book and house each offender to start. The State provides the JC $35.00 dollars a day per offender for just the most basic care. However, if an offender requires a special diet, security, housing (isolation), or transportation the State allows up to $50.00 a day. Consider this that money must cover food, housing and housing consists of electricity, water, gas and a special air circulation system any jail must have in order to prevent airborne disease from spreading. These records are public. Feel free to check up on my amounts.

I asked Sheriff Heaton if the drug problem in Clay County has gotten worse and he told me, "Yes, definitely and the large percentage of home burglaries that we see are drug related. In fact, the majority of the offenders we have coming in are drug users."

So what are the Brazil Police doing to rid the issue of drugs within our town limits? Chief Archer was more than forthcoming when talking about how actively his force is working to track down and apprehend the dealers, users and manufacturers of meth in our town. If you decide that you are going to be slick and go into say CVS Pharmacy or Walgreen's, Kroger's or Wal-Mart and think you can buy ANY ingredient for production of meth, they know what you're doing. Each of the products that are used in the manufacturing of meth are closely monitored by law enforcement. Law enforcement officers are also trained to look for certain things during traffic stops and for certain behavior trait's when interacting with the public. Local Law enforcement agencies use tools such as their K-9 programs to support that training.

Both Chief Archer and Sheriff Heaton stated, "We have a good working relationship. If either of us needs an Officer, we provide them to help out." However, Sheriff Heaton stated that, "I'm not going to take a City Officer out of Brazil to the southern part of the County which is 45 miles out of their jurisdiction...but if push came to shove, I know they would be there. There is a mutual agreement with the surrounding counties as well so that if we need help, they will be there."

Chief Archer told me "all my Officers work more hours than what they are paid for." I don't know about any of you, but that to me, is passion. Working for free putting your life on the line for free, Wow. How many of us would be that willing and dedicated? I don't think I could do that for sure.

Starting salary for a City Officer for Brazil is $25,750.00. However, by the time you factor in training, uniforms and car, it's upwards of $36,000.00 to get them on the street. Then there is 4 months away from your family in the Police Academy for both the County and City officers that have to be completed within the first year of hire.

When I asked Chief Archer how someone with a family gets by on that salary and even him for that matter, he replied, "My wife works as well or I couldn't do this. I've said that from day one. I love Brazil, I've raised my kids here and I wanted better for them. The only way to do that is to step up. You can be a part of the solution, or you can let things ride, if you're happy with the way things are. If you're not happy about it, don't sit back and complain, "Well, they should be doing this!" "Just man up and do it!"

He goes on to say that he doesn't do what he does for the money and has to contend with equipment that is in serious need of repair or replacement. With the advent of the city getting it's tax base cut, it's bad for the Department. "What is good for the homeowner in tax cuts is not so great for the City."

Both Sheriff Heaton and Chief Archer agreed upon the fact that they like to get tax cuts too, but they are afraid that these cuts may have a long term dire effect on the law enforcement agencies.

Sheriff Heaton said, " I hope the jail (budget) does not get cut because of the services we provide to the County. We're not going to make everybody happy out there. There are people out there who feel, "Well, they could have done a little bit better (meaning the law enforcement agencies)" "We do the best we can with what we have to work with the experience and the technology, that's why when we need too, we utilize the State Police when available as much as possible because they have such a bigger resource. Law Enforcement works so well together no matter what agency to get the job done. For example, not to long ago when we had the home invasion, but you had, the Police dept, Sheriffs dept, US Marshals, ISP, Vigo County dept, and there was another agency there. You had 6 agencies pooling their resources together to solve a home invasion in Clay County." "I'm not above asking for help, if I need help I'm going to ask for it."

Chief Archer also stated that he also does not hesitate to ask other agencies for help when needed and all those agencies have one common bond and that is our safety.

The lesson I learned outside of the fact that these two men are just fantastic individuals who work as a team for no more than pennies on the dollar of our tax money, I also learned about how the BPD Officers took money of their own pockets to provide their cars with lights, radios and necessary equipment that in a larger area, would be automatically provided. Why you ask? Because they knew as taxpayers in Clay County and Brazil proper that times are tough and sometimes, you have to give of yourself for the greater good.

As a final note, I want to mention that I was given the grand tour of the Justice Center post this interview and I was delighted at how CLEAN the facility was. It smelled of cinnamon and you could have eaten off ANY surface in that facility. What respect Sheriff Heaton and the staff shows for our tax dollars! It's nice to see that kind of respect for the money you and I work so hard for everyday.

Stay tuned, next we get to meet our attorney and see what happens as we go to court to be arraigned! See you soon!

Karen Meister can be contacted at: ksframeofmind@yahoo.com.