As we come to the end of National Correctional Officers Week, we highlight one area where the jail staff also plays another important role for law enforcement.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office has five full time and two part time jailers who also serve as dispatchers. Chief Deputy and Jail Administrator Jeremy Bennett says doing both jobs can be stressful and it takes a certain type of individual to handle both responsibilities.

“You have to be able to take 911 calls, so that dispatcher has got to get all of the information they can from that person to try and get them help. Then turn around and also do the jail. So it takes a special person because some of our inmates are really good because people make mistakes. But we do have a few that come there and they are not nice people, and they are mean to the dispatchers, and make comments that most people couldn’t handle. So our staff does a great job and handles them both well.”

Bennett points out that all deputies are certified jailers and serve as backups in case a dispatcher is busy handling emergency situations. He adds when the new jail is open, there will be a dedicated jail staff, which will then separate the dispatchers from also being jailers.