Monroe's assertion that an arrest for simple assault is "shameful and gross" detracts from an otherwise excellent point. The original story on this clearly illustrated the arresting officer made the arrest to de-escalate a potentially violent situation. While a fist-fight is far from the crime of the century, it's clearly in the public interest to dissuade them, and there's not much grey area to consider.
Corrections' failure to provide adequate care doesn't indict the arrest. Even if Barry's crime had been heinous beyond imagination, he was presumed innocent under the law when he was denied his medication.
Clearly, a new building alone does nothing to remediate inadequate inmate care. Ironically, it seems JSO was better at caring for inmates than their third party contractors.
Waters wasn't my choice for Sheriff, and I think he is/was a Curry puppet, but accountability for this mess seems like it should belong to Williams. Now, failures under the new provider, will be squarely on Waters' shoulders. Maybe he should consider bringing medical care back in-house if vendors are killing inmates at triple the rate.
If the jail is legitimately nearing end-of-life, a solution is needed regardless of whether JSO is adequately fulfilling its mission. Viewing a new jail as a "reward" or leverage over policing policy seems unwise to me.
In my opinion, the issues raised by Monroe cut more to the cultural deficiencies within JSO and less to the decision on whether a new jail is appropriate, regardless of location.
