Danny Barnes - Distinguished Technical Award

Since the merge of the Detention Center into the Sheriff’s Office, Sergeant Danny Barnes has been integral in building bridges, combining technologies and bringing the agency up to date with state-of-the-art technology.

He created a proposal and acquired upgrades for the radio infrastructure utilized by the Sheriff’s Office, Public Works and Parks + Rec, to improve communication between deputies, detention staff, park rangers and maintenance crews. This project includes all new radios, a fiber connection to the microwave tower mounted atop city hall, and a new satellite dispatch panel at the Detention Center.

Sgt. Barnes wrote a request for proposals for body worn cameras and upgraded video server equipment. He then reviewed the proposals and is in the process of rolling out the cameras to deputies.

Danny led the team that installed and implemented the new RFID-based inmate movement tracking system at the Detention Center. He researched and acquired new software to be used by investigators and detectives at the Sheriff’s Office, both in the field and at the Detention Center.

He also put together the request for proposals to replace the antiquated resource management and computer aided dispatch systems at the Sheriff’s Office with a modern system which included a robust jail management system. He then put together a multidisciplinary evaluation committee, which included line staff, front-line supervisors, and command staff from every division of the Sheriff’s Office to review the proposals and evaluate the product demonstrations. Once completed, Danny presented the findings to the Jackson County Purchasing Department. 

Sgt. Barnes was a key technician and panel member in the Department’s first presentation to a national audience in February 2021 for the American Correctional Association. It was his engineering that resulted in a multi-camera angle, professionally lit and presented training seminar, the department’s first opportunity to do so as an agency at this level.

Everything he does for the Jackson County Detention Center is next level, never satisfied with the status quo or how things have always been done. He is a credit to the uniform, a trust-worthy and committed colleague, and true servant of the people.