El Paso inmates help move bodies to medical examiner's office
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Ricardo SamaniegoLaw CrimeEL PASO, Texas (KFOX14) — Officials with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said that inmates from El Paso County Jail are helping move bodies at the El Paso Medical Examiner’s Office, on a voluntarily basis.
The spokesperson said the morgues are overwhelmed just as much as the hospitals.
The inmates are getting paid $2 an hour. They began helping last Monday. Initially, inmates were only supposed to help Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. but they have been there this weekend as well.
The spokesperson said there are a deputy and two detention officers present with the inmates. She also said inmates are wearing full personal protective equipment.
She also said the inmates who are helping are inmates who have misdemeanors.
El Paso County Judge, Ricardo Samaniego confirmed to KFOX14 that El Paso County inmates on work release are being used to handle bodies of coronavirus patients at the medical examiner's office.
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“Having to use inmates tells the story of how short-handed we must be,” said Samaniego.
El Paso County officials announced El Paso has 10 mobile morgues.
El Paso public health officials announced 1,512 new COVID-19 and 15 additional deaths on Saturday.
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