COUNTY JAIL BECOMES MORE SECURE

JACKSON -- The honor system hasn't been enough to ensure the safety of deputies at the Cape Girardeau County Jail, especially after a violent escape attempt in February.

So Sheriff John Jordan had a steel-bar cage installed to replace the honor system -- a thin yellow line -- that served to keep inmates away from a potential exit.

At a cost of $11,000, two walls of steel bars covered by a shield of Plexiglas were placed around a door leading from the jail's control booth to the commons area where inmates congregate. The door can only be opened from the booth, and only if the door of the cage is closed.

"What we had before was a yellow line that said, 'Do Not Cross,'" Jordan said. He said that was an obvious security flaw, and plans have been in the works for years to correct it.

Jordan said the cage was paid for from the Crime Reduction Fund made up of court-ordered fines and not tax money. "This was paid for by the criminals of Cape Girardeau County," he said.

The cage is the first of a number of improvements to be made at the jail over the next year.

An escape attempt Feb. 24 that could have resulted in serious injury to at least one jailer prompted jail officials to move forward in their plans for a more secure entrance to the control booth.

The escape attempt happened during a Monday night Bible study and allegedly involved inmates Steven R. Brewer, 18, of Sikeston; Leo D. Renfro, 39, of Springfield; and Jeremy W. Floyd, 26, of Sikeston.

None of the inmates could be seen from the booth when Cpl. Gaylen Sanders entered the commons area through the control booth door. Jordan said they heard the lock unlatch and rushed in from around a corner.

Authorities gave this account:

Brewer and Floyd attacked Sanders while Renfro grabbed the door before it closed. Renfro then attacked Deputy John Dace, who was in the control center. Brewer tried to hit Sanders on the head with a fire extinguisher but was stopped by a trusty -- possibly saving the deputy's life.

The escape attempt was controlled with the help of two ministers and two trusties.

Brewer has admitted to his part in the escape attempt and was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison, authorities said. Renfro and Floyd are awaiting trial.

Jordan said the control-booth door leads to a possible escape route. Also, once inside the control booth the inmates would have had access to the electronic locks for the cells and exit doors.

The new protective barrier will add to the inch-thick bullet-proof glass that surrounds and secures the booth. Deputy Dan Gentles, who works in the control booth, said the possibility of inmates rushing the booth in an effort to escape has been eliminated.

"There's no way now someone can get in here," Gentles said. "We had a yellow line that we told the inmates they couldn't cross. But there was no security; just the painted yellow line."

Jail administrator Lt. Michael Morgan said the jail has taken steps to eliminate another well-known escape route -- the garbage.

Convicted murderer Russell E. Bucklew escaped from the jail by hiding in a trash bag. The diminutive Bucklew was taken out of the jail by a trusty. Morgan said the jail has purchased a trash compactor that should discourage that method of escape. Also, trusties no longer are allowed to take the trash out.

Morgan said the compactor should be installed soon.

Jordan said two inmates escaped through the control booth in 1980. He said they were recaptured after a two-day manhunt.

In September the county was awarded $1.5 million from the U.S. Marshal's Service for either a new jail or to expand the jail. Jordan said there are some design flaws in the jail that may work against expansion.

A designer has been working on plans for a new or restructured facility and will present his recommendations to a county jail committee next week.

Jordan said he expects construction to begin next year on whatever facility the county approves. He hopes to more than double the capacity of the jail with an additional 96 beds. That would bring the county jail beds to about 176.