JOHNSTOWN - The Fulton County Sheriff's Department is proposing more than $127,000 in capital projects for 2010, including three new vehicles and a new electronic fingerprinting system for the County Jail.
Sheriff Thomas J. Lorey presented the proposals to the Board of Supervisors' Public Safety Committee Thursday at the County Office Buildings. The sheriff's proposed capital plan for next year was referred to the Capital Projects Committee, which meets July 16.
Lorey requested a capital project totaling $89,000 to purchase three new vehicles for his department. He said the department's Road Patrol Division needs two road patrol vehicles and a four-wheel-drive sports utility vehicle that could be used in wooded areas.
In another 2010 capital plan request, Lorey said he wants to acquire a new $38,569 Live Scan electronic fingerprinting system for the County Jail at Harrison Street and Route 29.
Lorey explained Monday that the Sheriff's Department already has obtained grant money for a separate electronic fingerprinting system for booking crime suspects in the law enforcement division of the department. But he said the state requires a separate system for the corrections division.
"Unfortunately, it's mandated for both the law enforcement side and the corrections side," the sheriff said.
Capt. Randy Benedict, the jail administrator, said Monday the correctional facility books inmates the old-fashioned way - rolling fingers on ink pads to get prints.
"It's going to be a lot easier for us," Benedict said of an electronic fingerprinting system.
Lorey said the proposed Live Scan system transmits over phone lines to the state Department of Criminal Justice Services. The equipment would merge with the jail's booking system to provide booking information, photos of suspects and fingerprints almost instantaneously.
The sheriff said electronic fingerprinting is now a requirement under state Corrections Law. He said that starting in 2010, the DCJS will no longer accept rolled fingerprints.
"With the introduction of Live Scan, positive identification will be made, saving countless man-hours necessary for reviewing and processing of rolled fingerprints," the written capital request indicates.
The project's $38,569 cost includes expenses for software and its installation and for interface and support with Black Creek Integrated Systems of Moody, Al., the local jail's longtime security vendor.
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com