Tarrant County Jail official retires days after 6th inmate death of 2024

FILE: Jail
FILE: Jail Photo credit Getty Images

The deputy in charge of operations at the Tarrant County Jail is retiring. Executive Chief Deputy of Confinement Charles Eckert had been in charge of the jail since 2020 and with the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office for 32 years.

The jail has been in the spotlight recently because of a series of in-custody deaths. A group has called on Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn to resign over the death of Anthony Johnson, who died after a confrontation with jail staffers in April.

According to KRLD's media partner NBC 5, 65 people have died in custody at the jail since 2017, with six of those deaths coming this year.

Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons issued a statement calling Eckert's departure a "necessary first step" in addressing deaths at the jail. But she also said "systemic problems" must be addressed.

"The ultimate responsibility for these issues lies with Sheriff Bill Waybourn," she said. "We must work collaboratively to ensure that our facilities are safe and that our staff is adequately trained to uphold the highest standards of care and constitutional rights."

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Featured Image Photo Credit: Getty Images