Claiborne Co. officials prepare to open new jail, still no sign of sheriff

Claiborne Co. officials prepare to open new jail, still no sign of sheriff

April 12, 2006

By CATHARYN CAMPBELL
6 News Reporter

CLAIBORNE COUNTY (WATE) -- Construction on the new Claiborne County Jail and Justice Center is complete. The county broke ground on the project in October 2004 and some people say that's the last time they saw Sheriff Harry Shultz at the site.

On Wednesday, county leaders and even U.S. Congressman Zach Wamp took a tour of the building. But Sheriff Shultz was nowhere to be found.

County Mayor Virgil Herrell says, "He is the chief law enforcement officer for the county and he has custody of the jail and the prison they are in. So that, ultimately, is his responsibility."

Herrell says at last check, only 15 jail employees had been hired. He says there need to be at least 24 officers plus medical personnel on hand to operate the 200 bed facility.

"Before we can become fully certified by the state, these people must be trained and in place. But, you have a year before you have to be certified. So we've got time to do it but I would feel much better if we had all people in place on the first day," Herrell says.

Nearly 50 prisoners are scheduled to move into the jail on May 1. It's not clear if the jail has to be fully staffed for that to happen.

6 News tried to contact Shultz and other administrators at the Claiborne County Sheriff's Department but the calls were not returned.