Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Jon Dunn ReportingTwo unknown Salt Lake County correctional officers smuggled BB guns, lighters, scissors and other contraband into the county jail. They say it proves the jail is unsafe.
Salt Lake County Chief Deputy Rollin Cook, though, says he takes offense that anyone could say his jail is unsafe. He says his jail is as safe as he can make it with what he's got.
"Our first line of defense is our staff, and if one of our staff decides they want to bring something in that's our biggest threat," says Cook.
Cook says it's unknown who released photos to news agencies showing contraband in inmate areas of the jail. He says they cannot, with the staff they have, search all deputies as they come and go.
"It is a concern. However, placing our staff at risk just doesn't make sense," says Cook.
Cook says what the deputies did was a felony and the incident is under investigation.
