Thursday, April 16, 2009

Sheriff Expresses Gratitude For Assistance During Storm

   Although Lawrence County escaped the wrath of storms that passed through the area in recent days, Lawrence County Sheriff Kenny Taylor says he is extremely grateful for assistance offered when his department was unable to evacuate inmates from the temporary jail to the West Gaines Street site.

   Tornadoes ravaged the Murfreesboro/Rutherford County area, and others, on Friday, April 10, when weather conditions across the area turned dangerous. There were no reports of a funnel cloud touchdown within the immediate area, however conditions were certainly ripe for such. The county had been under a tornado watch that was upgraded to a tornado warning around 12:19 .m. Taylor explains, “Just prior to the warning being issued the contingency plan to vacate the temporary jail was activated.”

   Under the plan when the threat of hazardous weather appears imminent department personnel are to transport all prisoners housed within the temporary facility by bus to the permanent facility.

   “Murphy’s Law was in full effect,” Taylor says. “The school bus utilized for evacuation failed to start.”

   Taylor and his department quickly contacted Sergeant Pat Daniels at the Lawrenceburg Police Department and requested that that department provide assistance in transporting the inmates to the more sturdy structure.

   “As a result of the combined efforts of the Lawrenceburg Police Department, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department and the Corrections Staff, seventy-plus inmates were successfully transported over three miles without injury or escape, in less that twenty miles.”

   Taylor continues, “I wish to thank the Lawrenceburg Police Department and Sergeant Daniels for their swift actions and air of cooperation that was shown by each member of his shift during a most stressful event.”