Sheriff Says Faulty Cell Locks Pose Danger to Employees
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ALAMO, Tenn — Getting out of jail in Crockett County isn’t that hard to do according to Sheriff Troy Klyce. “These locks, inmates, they can even take something as simple as cardboards and slip these locks,” Klyce said. Klyce says he’s dealt with faulty and jammed locks on his jail cells for the past 16 years. On Wednesday, he plans to ask county commissioners for help, to the tune of $30,000 in repairs. “Part of the problem is it’s just the way the locks [are] made,” Klyce said. “And it’s just difficult to repair it to where it can’t be manipulated by an inmate.” For years, Klyce says the departments has unsuccessfully tried to fix the problem. There are currently 13 locks in the five pods of the jail, he says only four of the electric locks actually work. “If I worked there I might be a little unsettled about it,” Bettye Seager said, an Alamo resident. Klyce admits multiple inmates have simply walked away from their cells. “We’ve even charged some of them so technically by law if they leave their assigned area they can be charged with escape,” Klyce said. But Klyce says residents should not worry, there are additional door locks that do work between the inmates and the outside. Klyce says county commissioners have been unaware until our story that he’ll be bringing up the issue at Wednesday night’s county commissioners meeting. The sheriff says if the solution is approved the money to repair the locks could come from tax payers.
