The Platte County Sheriff’s Office this week has asked the Platte County Commission to purchase a transport van to get inmates released from the detention center out of downtown Platte City.
Major Erik Holland asked for approval for the request for bids at the Monday, June 17 commission administrative session.
Holland asked to purchase a transport van to be used to take inmates that are released into downtown Platte City to other areas of the county. The van as part of a plan the sheriff’s office is developing to address inmates that are released from the detention center.
“We want inmates that are released in downtown Platte City to have a means to get home,” Holland said.
He told the county commission that inmates can use a telephone in the detention center to call for rides. The sheriff’s office is developing a plan for a shuttle service to make it easier for released inmates to get to other modes of transportation, such as bus stops.
“Some inmates have burned so many bridges with friends and family that they have a hard time getting home from Platte City,” said Commissioner Joe Vanover.
Commissioner Dagmar Wood added her thoughts on the matter as well.
“I’m very supportive of released inmates getting transported outside of Platte City if they don’t have anyone to pick them up,” Wood said. “Keeping our Platte City citizens, businesses, and county offices safe is a priority for our commission.”
The request for bids asks for a van capable of transporting up to nine passengers and is a model 2021 or newer vehicle with 55,000 miles or less. The proposals are due by July 8.