City outlines changes after detainee escapes from Justice Center

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - The Public Safety Director outlined steps they say they are taking to prevent another escape after a detainee left the City Justice Center earlier this month.

Director of Public Safety Shawn Dace spoke to the Board of Aldermen’s Public Safety Committee.

“This is a failure on our part. We take responsibility,” Dace said.

Dace said the steps include retraining officers and reviewing procedures every 60 days. They also include documenting security checks at exit doors and other safety measures for staff.

The city has hired an outside security company to assess the facility. The city is also investigating why the alarm system failed.

In the meantime, surveillance monitoring will increase from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. Staffing is the most challenging during those shifts.

“We hope to have a 20% increase by the end of the year in staff,” Dace said.

Alderman Rasheen Aldridge said he still has more questions than answers after hearing from the department.

“I think there are a lot of questions unanswered. I first want to shout out the community, because it was a community that really requested that we have this meeting,” Aldridge said. “What we’ve seen today is that there were more questions out there than actual answers.”

Aldridge said he wants the city to address how detainees file complaints inside the facility.

It was revealed at the meeting that inmates have to pay to submit grievances on tablets, even when they need to report a safety issue or ask for medical care.

“They may not have money to say ‘hey, my life is in danger, I need medical care, a CO, correctional officer, abused me in some way’: sexually, physically, mentally, or whatever, that then they have to pay for... We have to change that policy,” Aldridge said.

The hearing also raised questions about conditions and the city’s plans to reduce the detainee population.

The jail commissioner was not at the hearing. Some aldermen wanted more direct answers from the person overseeing daily operations.

“I would say I don’t feel too relieved from this hearing… I’m hopeful on the 12th that we get more answers, that we get some solutions…” Aldridge said.

There will be another hearing November 12. The commissioner is expected to be there.