WALB is working to produce a video for this story. In the meantime, we encourage you to watch our livestream.

GRADY COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) – What was meant to be a routine fire drill for “Tour the Jail Tuesday” quickly escalated into an extensive safety and contraband search at the Grady County Detention Center on Tuesday.

The unexpected operation, which involved multiple law enforcement agencies and K9 teams, is being hailed as one of the most thorough security efforts in the facility’s history.

With the assistance of the Georgia State Patrol and Motor Carrier Compliance, nine K9 teams were deployed throughout the detention center for a comprehensive sweep. The initiative was a coordinated effort that also included ten deputies, the Cairo Fire Department, and detention officers, all working together to conduct a full-scale search of the entire detention complex, including all vehicles on the premises.

According to the release, this operation marks the first contraband and safety search of this scale at the Grady County Detention Center in over two decades. Sheriff Prince expressed his satisfaction with the successful outcome, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a secure and accountable facility.

“Ensuring the security of our detention center is a top priority,” Sheriff Prince said. “This operation demonstrates our proactive approach in maintaining order and preventing contraband from entering our facility. I want to personally thank the Georgia State Patrol K9 teams, Motor Carrier Compliance K9, the Cairo Fire Department, our deputies, and our detention officers for their dedication and professionalism in making this operation a success.”

The unannounced safety and contraband sweep underscores the Sheriff’s Office’s ongoing efforts to uphold the highest standards of security at the Grady County Detention Center.

For more information or any questions regarding the operation, contact Chief Deputy Kent Harvey at (299) 377-5200.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Copyright 2025 WALB. All rights reserved.