EPPD Wants To Outsource Inmate Booking

EL PASO, TX — The El Paso Police Department is preparing to present City Council with a contract to allow them to hire an outside company to help book inmates.
The El Paso Police Department says it can take up to 4 hours for an officer to process one inmate. The department says that time would be better spent on the streets protecting the public.
El Paso Police hope it's a win-win situation, hiring another company to help book inmates and save money at the same time.
"The return on the money that is being spent is that that officer is back out on the street a lot sooner. So, instead of not having that officer available to do anything, we can now have them back on the street,” said Asst. Chief Michelle Gardner.
Some El Pasoans say they aren't sure how the new system will help save the department money.
"I think saving money is a great thing, but I'm not sure how I see having two people being paid at the same time as saving any money. However, if it's getting our police to where it needs to be in less time, then that's a good thing,” said Leba Hirsch.
Others think it's a great cost saving measure.
"I think it's great that our officers would get the help that they need. They would be able to arrest a person for whatever they are doing and get right back on to the road right after they are dropped off at the jail so they can be possessed, that way I believe it would save some money,” said Claudia Davenport.
The company is called G4S. They would be responsible to finger print, process, and transport inmates.
The El Paso Police Department says many GFS employees are former law enforcement and military personnel.
"They will turn this arrestee over to this company G4S, who will then do the transporting and booking process for us. So, that allows for the officer to be returning to the field a lot sooner,” said Gardner.

The department hopes with more officers available, the faster law enforcement will be able to arrive to a crime scene.

If approved by City Council, El Paso police say the new system would go into effect on October 1st at their Pebble Hills Command Center, and then expand to other regions in 2013.