On Thursday, law enforcement with K-9 dogs raided the Luzerne County Correctional Facility as part of an effort called “Operation Clean Sweep,” according to county Manager Romilda Crocamo.
Crocamo's communication on Thursday morning stated that the goal was to find and eliminate illegal items within the prison on Water Street in Wilkes-Barre.
The operation was a collaborative effort involving county correctional staff, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections K-9 Unit, the county Drug Task Force, Pennsylvania State Police, and Wilkes-Barre Police, Crocamo informed council members and promised to keep them updated.
At 4 p.m., she provided the council with a summary from county Correctional Services Division Head James Wilbur.
• Only a small amount of illegal items was found, which indicates that the staff is doing well in ensuring the safety of the facility and inmates.
• All potential illegal items were collected, and the county District Attorney’s Office will file appropriate charges.
• No staff members were found to be in possession of anything illegal.
During a budget meeting in 2022, county officials had discussed reintroducing a drug detection dog, but the expense was not included in the budget.
In 2014, former head of the correctional services division, J. Allen Nesbitt, discontinued the prison canine program based on a recommendation to save money. Nesbitt mentioned that local police departments and the state Department of Corrections would provide canine assistance if needed.
Critics argued that having a dog at the Water Street facility consistently provided safety benefits, making it a worthwhile investment. In 2012, the county spent $11,054 for the food, veterinary care, and training of four dogs, as well as compensating the prison K-9 officers to care for the dogs at their homes.
