WEST CHESTER, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — The Chester County Prison Board addressed public safety and prison security at a public meeting Wednesday night following the recent escape of Danilo Cavalcante and another inmate in May.
Howard Holland, the acting warden, presented an improvement proposal focused on security, technology and operations. He wants up to 75 more cameras installed, more people employed to watch them, training programs improved, and K-9s reinstated.
“Currently in the county, there is a K-9 program that is run by the sheriffs. Back prior to 1986, K-9 were at the prison, and that is what I am looking to bring back,” he said.
Cavalcante escaped on Aug. 31 by crab-walking up a prison wall and onto the roof, then pushing past razor wire fences. His escape went unnoticed for more than an hour.
Igor Bolte escaped in a similar method on May 19. He was recaptured within minutes.
During another town hall meeting on Sept. 18, Holland displayed images of the areas where Bolte escaped (exercise yard 6) and Cavalcante escaped (exercise yard 5). Additional security measures were added after both instances, as referenced in some images below:
Additional razor wire and metal screening have been already installed in the exercise yards. An engineering consulting firm presented design options to fully enclose all eight of them. The work could take six to nine months to complete each yard, costing between $2.5 million to $3.5 million in all. The county would finance the work through American Rescue Plan dollars.
A portion of the meeting was dedicated to members of the community — most of them expressed safety concerns and disappointment wIth the response to the escapes. Some said a lot more has to be done by elected officials to restore trust in the community.
“There is no other way to say this,” one resident told officials, “you failed us.”
“That escaped prisoner traveled throughout the county,” said Vicki, another resident. “He stole a vehicle. He could have ended up anywhere. He could have been right outside my door. I do not feel safe.”
Holland hopes the tightened security measures will make everyone feel safe again.
“It’s nice to see so many people here,” he said. “I appreciate your concerns.”