The Acadia Parish Police Jury is looking at making cuts in one area to pay for services in another.
The finance committee met Tuesday night to consider cutting funding to security guards at the courthouse in order to pay for a second medic for the Acadia Parish Jail.
The metal detector at the front door of the courthouse is currently staffed by two Acadia Parish Sheriff’s deputies. Those salaries, according to the jury, are paid through the parish general fund per an agreement made with the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff K.P. Gibson was at the committee meeting and said a second medic is needed at the jail. The current medic is on call 24/7. Occasionally a deputy who is also an EMT will fill in for him.
Gibson estimates that the cost of a second medic, with benefits, would be between $58,000 and $60,000 annually.
Jury counsel will have to find out if the police jury can do away with the security detail at the courthouse. Members of the jury hope legal counsel will have a decision by the November 13, 2018 meeting.
