Sheriff beefs up security after shootings

CELINA - Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey isn't taking any chances when it comes to protecting jail personnel, especially after the recent deadly shootings of five police officers in Dallas.

County commissioners this week approved Grey's request to have bulletproof glass installed in the administrative window located in the jail lobby. They awarded a $2,188 contract to Pauly Jail Building Co. Inc. to install ballistic security glazing.

"In light of recent events of active shooters targeting law enforcement, we would like to install bulletproof glass in the administrative window located in the lobby," Grey wrote in a letter to commissioners.

When the facility was originally built, bulletproof glass was installed in the corrections window but not the administrative window, Grey stated.

"When we were designing the jail we didn't really consider that being a threat," the sheriff said this morning.

But with anti-law enforcement sentiments rising nationally and the local escalation of incidents involving mentally ill people, Grey said he wanted to take the extra precaution of installing bulletproof glass.

"We're dealing with more people today than we were five years ago who are suffering from mental illness," he said. "With the recent attacks on law enforcement I just wanted to make sure our employees are safe while at the same time appreciating the support that we get from the people of Mercer County."

Grey said though the department hasn't received direct threats, employees have seen negative postings on social media and emails sent to the department.

"We haven't had any direct threats. We do have a couple of people who are very unhappy ... on social media and blogs (who) are writing very negative things and some of those things could be interpreted as threats, although nothing that's direct," Grey said.

Grey said he has sought advice on the matter from the county prosecutor and the FBI.

"A lot of that stuff written ... would be protected speech under the First Amendment," he said.

The recourse at this point would be a lawsuit, he said, but added he wasn't elected sheriff to sue people.

"We keep very close tabs on the person's writing on (social) media," he said.

Asked about law enforcement employees' relationship with the people they serve in Mercer County, Grey said "we're very fortunate to be in this area." He thinks most people would feel comfortable addressing law enforcement if they believe something wasn't done properly, Grey added.

"I think that the people of Mercer County are very supportive of us," he said.

But as demonstrated in Dallas, all it takes is one person with mental illness to inflict tragedy, he cautioned.

"It's not Mercer County people I'm concerned about," he said. "People travel through our county all the time. You don't know when a deputy is going to stop a car or a police car is going to stop a car from out of the area and then a situation escalates."

Deputies are constantly reminded to be alert, he said.

They also know they're almost always being recorded when enforcing laws, noting the use of body and cruiser cameras, he said.

"They see the news just like the rest of us, and I think they know it's protection for them," he said about officers' body cameras.