Police say the B Scan body scanner will combat the introduction of drugs to the county jail.

WARSAW — Kosciusko County Sheriff William Rocky Goshert announced today, April 27, that the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department was approved to proceed with the body scan project for the Kosciusko County Jail that was proposed several months ago.

The purchase of the B Scan whole body scanner was completed through Command Sourcing Inc.

Several different body scanners were considered for the project, but the B Scan was well vetted by both the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department and the Indiana Sheriff’s Association and was the final choice for implementation.

The final conclusion to the selection process was that for the price, service plan and available options for deployment, the B Scan was the appropriate body scanner for the Kosciusko County Jail.

A site survey has been completed by Command Sourcing, and delivery is expected in July, with on-site training to follow after installation of the equipment.

Goshert addressed the Kosciusko County Council in February about the need for a body scanner to detect drugs coming into the Kosciusko County Jail. Goshert said such a scanner would likely prevent the introduction of such drugs as Fentanyl from entering the building. He cited the case from late last year in Fort Wayne where emergency services workers were treated — some with the overdose antidote Narcan — for Fentanyl exposure after several inmates tried to smoke the powerful opioid. Goshert told the board that the county jail in Laporte “put it in and within the first day they had several (hits) where drugs were coming in.” Goshert told the board that Fentanyl was a specific concern due to its ability to affect others through incidental contact.