TYLER, Texas (AP) — Two East Texas jailers have been fired in ongoing investigations into falsified welfare-check records.
Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said Tuesday the former detention officer and sergeant were fired after being placed on leave. A new employee at the Tyler jail alleged last month that employees improperly recorded welfare checks.
Five other jailers linked to the investigations have since resigned. None of the jailers have been identified.
Jail-check logs keep track of times when officers confirm that all inmates are accounted for and safe. Regular cells are supposed to be checked every 45 minutes and suicide watch cells every 10 minutes.
Smith County and the Texas Rangers are conducting independent investigations.
The fired jailers have 10 days to appeal the termination.
