Since he started as an Ellis County jailer in 1980, Sheriff Ed Harbin has seen a lot of changes in law enforcement.

“The day I was hired, I was one of four jailers.  There was one inmate, who wasn’t even from Ellis County,” he recalls.

Now there are 9 full-time jailers with a 10th person soon to be hired, plus one part-time jailer.  The March 20 jail census is 42 people, housed in a facility built in 1975-76 for about 30 inmates.

“Our number one need is capacity, space for people,” says Harbin.  He wants Ellis County residents to understand how, and why, the jail would be re-designed and expanded if a proposed half-cent sales tax is approved by voters May 14.

“Jail is a very different place.  We have strong and weak prisoners;  high-security risk prisoners;  some who are suicidal; some who are in protective custody,” explains Harbin.  “We can’t put some types of people in the same area and we can’t put a lot of people in one area.

“It’s a safety and security problem–for the prisoners, for my staff, and ultimately, for the public.”

The proposed countywide sales tax would be used to fund the jailhouse project and increased security within the courthouse.  It would also fund construction of a new combined Ellis County EMS/Rural Fire building.

Watch Eagle Local News, ECTV Channel 14 tonight as we accompany Sheriff Harbin on a tour of the Ellis County jail.