Sheriff granted nearly $8,000 to increase jail security

Kimball County Sheriff Harry Gillway and Linda Williams, Kimball County Jail Administrator, presented information to the Kimball County Commissioners regarding additional security equipment for the Kimball County jail and courthouse.

Gillway and Williams sought board approval for the purchase of security equipment needed at the Kimball County Jail.

Purchase of the equipment would be almost entirely reimbursed with funding through the Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Management Association, or NIRMA, which recognizes the safety/risk management efforts of members and offers ASSIST program grants and additional resources annually for such funding.

Gillway requested and was granted, from NIRMA, a total of $1,900 for the purchase of body cameras for local jailers.

The sheriff’s office further requested $9,096.50 to upgrade existing camera equipment as well as to install new cameras and a digital video recording device. The cameras would monitor and record inmate behavior in the county jail. The records could then be available for review by officals, juries and grand juries if needed. Of the amount requested they received $6887.50.

“It’s a reimbursement grant,” explained Gillway, “We pay for the items and submit the bill for payment back to the county.”

The increased concern for safety and security directly follows the suicide of Jesus Estrada-Perez, who was found hanging in a Kimball County jail cell on Aug. 1.

A Kimball grand jury found no criminal conduct on the part of the Sheriff’s Office resulting from an investigation conducted by the Nebraska State Patrol. The jury, convened on Nov. 9, did recommend the department increase the safety and security within the jail and the entire courthouse.

The Board of Commissioners approved the total amount of the equipment to be purchased from Hinton’s Lock & Alarm of North Platte.