While the primary reason of the investigation was to uncover how a knife was smuggled into the jail, none of the four who voluntarily resigned were linked to the knife matter, Sheriff Jeff Frazier said.
During the investigation, which employed use of voice stress analysis, other issues and improprieties were discovered.
Under the Garrity Warning, the employees could admit to wrongdoing but could not be held criminally responsible.
The employees, Chief Jailer Melita Payton, Jail Supervisor Lee Cofield, Mark Murphy and Randy West resigned.
Frazier said around July 7 or 8, one of the inmates in the jail tried to cut his arm either to seek attention or get hospitalization. The knife was found hidden in one of the flow vents of the drainage system. “We don't know how it got there. Either an inmate hid it and it got missed or it was brought in by an employee.”
Investigation of how the knife got in the jail continues.
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