Bill Adams says he will keep the no-smoking policy.

By Anne Thrower athrower@paducahsun.com--270.575.8653

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Don't expect a lot of changes now that Bill Adams is running the McCracken County Regional Jail.

"I'll probably handle personnel a little differently," Adams said. He plans to keep the same staff, but he said his approach in handling people will be a little different than Cliff Gill, who retired Sunday after 12 years as jailer.

Gill admitted last week that dealing with personnel was the hardest part of the job, sometimes harder than dealing with the inmates. Adams said he plans to be straight-forward in dealing with people.

Adams, 43, was sworn in Monday by Judge-Executive Danny Orazine. Gill attended the ceremony and left shortly after noon. Adams said he doesn't expect Gill to be the type who would continually be checking in to see what's going on.

Adams has worked at the jail 11 years, seven years as a supervisor, most recently as the medical supervisor.

"They know how I am," Adams said. "It's really not a change for them."

Prior to working at the jail, Adams helped run his father's security company business for 10 years. "I've been around law enforcement a whole lot," he said.

Adams said he will keep the no-smoking policy. "I was all for the no-smoking policy," he said. "It makes for a clean environment."

Even though the ban went into effect in May, people are still getting charged with attempting to bring tobacco into the jail. The most recent case occurred July 23, when a woman tried to smuggle in packs of Bugle cigarettes. In another case, a person tried to mail tobacco to an inmate.

Adams has also inherited an ongoing probe by the U.S. Department of Justice that has lingered since 1998. Another visit is expected next month.

Adams said he plans to carry out the 30-page agreement that was signed in July 2001. "There's not a lot to change," he said. "We have done most of what they wanted."

Adams plans to run for jailer next year as a Democrat. Gill has said he will support him.