During the highest-attended Riley County Law Enforcement Agency Board meeting this year, community members asked the board on Monday not to apply for a federal grant that would fund improvements and expansions for the jail, but require more cooperation with federal immigration enforcement agencies.
However, the board granted approval to continue pursuing the grant with a 4-1 vote, with the caveat that any formal offer or contract could still be denied by the board.
Crowding at the Riley County jail is not a new issue. Police officials and jail captain Maj. Mark French have reported for several years that the average daily population of inmates is approaching an unsustainable number. At Monday’s board meeting, police department director Brian Peete put forward his latest proposed solution: instead of raising local taxes to cover a new/updated facility, apply for a federal grant to fund the changes, with no local taxpayer cost matching but a possible agreement to enforce federal immigration law and house detainees.
