COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Sheriff John Pollack asked the Branch County Board of Commissioners Thursday that when they meet for a planning session in the near future, they consider hiring two additional full time deputies. He also asked them to put a jail millage on the ballot in 2018 that would be considerably less than the one which was turned down by voters last August.
Pollack said it was no surprise a recent Department of Corrections inspection of the county jail found many deficiencies. The two main concerns were the minimum cell door locks and being above the number of female inmates that were allowed in the facility.
He says female inmates awaiting sentences will now have to be sent out of the county.
Pollack added an architectural group has approached the department about designing a new jail at a price that would be considerably less than the previous design which was turned down in a millage vote last August.
Pollack said he recently was notified by Circuit Court Judge Bill O’Grady that his deputies were expected to provide security at all circuit and probate court sessions.
The Sheriff said the two additional deputies are also needed to cover the reduction of Michigan State Police patrols.
