From: Sheriff Mark Harrell
Autauga County Sheriff’s Office
As Sheriff of Autauga County, it is both my legal and moral duty to protect the citizens of this great county, as well as the brave men and women who work every day to uphold law and order. In fulfillment of that responsibility, I filed a lawsuit against the County Commission to address critical public safety concerns affecting the county jail, courtroom security, and adequate funding for the Sheriff’s Office.
The lawsuit raised three primary issues:
1. The urgent need to remediate dangerous mold conditions (specifically Black Mold) within the county jail.
2. Adequate funding to ensure proper courtroom security.
3. Funding the Sheriff’s Office at levels comparable to similarly situated sheriff’s departments across the state.
Funding for the Sheriff’s Office is determined solely by the County Commission, and current funding levels remain insufficient to meet the safety needs of our community. At no time have I requested an 82% increase in pay as the County Commission has reported.
My foremost goal has always been to ensure that the jail is safe for occupancy. While the County Commission initially denied the existence of a mold problem, over the past two years, the county has spent more than $10 million on mold remediation efforts, confirming the seriousness of the issue. Despite this significant expenditure, mold concerns remain, and substantial work is still required to ensure the facility is safe and can be reoccupied.
Throughout this process, I have repeatedly sought open and constructive communication with the County Commission. Unfortunately, numerous emails, phone calls, and requests to meet at commission sessions have gone unanswered or been denied.
The court’s recent dismissal addressed only the issue of jail occupancy. The remaining claims, adequate courtroom security funding and proper funding of the Sheriff’s Office remain unresolved. Accordingly, I have directed my legal counsel to file a motion seeking to amend the dismissal so these critical public safety matters can be properly addressed. See attached additions to this press release.
My commitment remains unchanged: to protect the citizens of Autauga County, to support the dedicated law enforcement professionals who serve them, and to ensure that our facilities and resources meet the standards of safety and justice our community deserves.
