Sheriff’s Dept. Responds to COVID-19

By Jessie Williams

The Macon County Sheriff’s Department has recently announced its plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

According to Sheriff Mark Gammons, emergency call operations and community patrol will continue as usual, but many other changes are being made to protect the health of employees, inmates and citizens.

• Employees are required to take their temperatures before coming to work each day, and asked to stay home if they have a fever.
• The jail has been quarantined, and no work crews are being sent out into the community. 
• Off-site, video visitation is the only way to visit with inmates at this time. 
• Commissary payments for inmates can be paid at the kiosk in the front lobby of the sheriff’s department (users are subject to a temperature check) or by mailing a money order to the sheriff’s office. Those who mail payments should be aware that the mail may be delayed in order to make sure inmates don’t come in contact with the virus.
• The sheriff is asking citizens to call the sheriff’s office if their concerns or issues can be handled over the phone. 
• Additional cleaning services have been implemented at the Macon County Justice Center and inside the jail.

“We are taking this very seriously,” said the sheriff. “The health of our employees, the inmates and our community are a top priority. All of these precautions are being taken on a day-to-day basis and additional precautions may be added in the event we have any cases of the COVID-19 virus confirmed in Macon County.”

While Student Resource Officers are off due to school closings, they are helping the school system’s nutrition program by delivering meals to kids that get free breakfasts and lunches. 

“We appreciate the school system for doing this, and are happy to supply SRO’s to make the deliveries,” said sheriff Gammons.

Sheriff Gammons also urges everyone not to panic and/or hoard supplies, because it can lead to a shortage of items for others in the community who need them. 

While his department continues round-the-clock protection of the community, the sheriff asks the community to come together in prayer.

“We should all pray to the good Lord to get us through these trying times,” he said. “And for the people that have to run towards the danger instead of away from it.”