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FEB 251981 pro P. O. BOX 608 PHONE 562.7911 February 18, 1981 Honorable Patrick B. Lyons Board of County Commissioners 2145 14th Avenue Vero Beach, Florida 32960 Dear Mr. Lyons: BOOK 45 PAGE C? R.T."T1M' DOBECK • KVDIAN RIVER COUI\71T MEMBER FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION MEMBER OF NATIONAL SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION N'11R0 131..1011. I'1.0r?IDA 32000 I would like to take this opportunity, by letter, to address and thank the Commission for allowing us to make our presentation before the Commission. I am unable to attend this meeting as my Chief Jail Administrator andI are attending the National Correction Institute which is a two week extensive school dealing with problems that our facility is now faced with. My Chief Deputy, Major Roy Raymond is well versed on our presentation and will act on my behalf during my absence. Major Raymond.is aware of my feelings regarding this matter and will be able to answer any questions for me. During the month of January my personnel conducted an extensive study involving the shortage of personnel in the area of the Jail and Communications. A letter of recommendation has been forwarded to County Administrator Neil Nelson, requesting the construction of a Security fire escape from the second story be undertaken. By law I am not able to appropriate funds or spend money from my budget to correct or add structures to my existing facility. My staff will be more than happy to provide any information or assistance in this matter. This is an item the Commission will have to review as I am only the custodian of the facility. However, I cannot stress enough the need and emergency for this fire escape. I am always reminded of several tragedies that have occurred in correction facilities through out the state. One that immediately comes to mind is the tragic fire in the Seminole County Jail, during this fire 11 lives were lost, 10 inmates and 1 correctional officer. As a result the county was faced with a total of 51 civil law suits, some still unsettled. We, as elected officials must immediately take steps to assure this civil burden does not fall on the people of Indian River County. I would also like to bring to the Commissions attention that these problems did not appear in the last 30 days. As a newly elected Sheriff, I inherited a problem compounded by lack of maintenance. These repairs on the facility and additional manpower could have and should have been avoided by setting aside in the budget over the last 5 years monies to correct the problem and the burden would have not been on my shoulders to ask for these funds. The lack of proper preparation over the last 5 years on budget matters, gives the appearance that we are over spending. Gentl-emen this is not the case, as you will see during the last 5 years all services and responsibilities have increased greatly, however no personnel has been requested comparable to our growth. As a result of this we are now in an emergency situation and must take immediate action to bring our staff and facility closer to state regulations or stand the risk of having our facility closed. My personnel has worked very hard over the last month to clean the facility and comply with state regulations but without proper staffing it is almost an impossibility. We have been able to correct and comply with many of the request by the state with no expense to the people of Indian River County and to the State Correctional Officials to whom have been very helpful in aiding us in correction of our smaller problems, but have been directed to correct as soon as possible the issues before the Commission. 23