Kent Police Chief Ken Thomas joined jail staff on Wednesday to help celebrate the 30th year of the City of Kent Corrections Facility, 1230 Central Ave. S.
The city jail opened in 1986 and houses misdemeanor offenders arrested by police as well as those sentenced to less than one year in cases such as drunk driving, domestic violence, minor assaults and petty theft.
The celebration included the 30-year anniversary of Corrections Sgt. Pakeke Pisia, who has been with the jail since it was built.
The facility opened with just 48 beds and in 1991 expanded to 96 beds, by double bunking the cells. The jail has an average population of 130 inmates. Inmates can serve jail sentences on work release and home monitoring programs. The jail also offers a work crew program that assists with keeping the city free of graffiti and litter.
The facility employs 25 staff members, with an additional six contracted staff, for food and medical services. The average tenure of staff is 14 years of service.
Attendees at the celebration included Mayor Suzette Cooke, City Chief Administrative Officer Derek Matheson, Assistant Chief’s Eric Hemmen, Rafael Padilla and Derek Kammerzell, Municipal Court Judges Karli Kristine Jorgensen and Glenn M. Phillips. Several retired staff also attended the celebration: Police Chief Ed Crawford, Assistance Chief Jon Straus and Police Capt. Dennis Byerly.
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