Nassau County Officers Face Hidden Danger

May 3, 2006

POSTED: 6:42 pm EDT May 2, 2006

UPDATED: 9:34 pm EDT May 2, 2006

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. -- The employees of the Nassau County

Sheriff's Office who hit the streets and put their lives on the line

every day protecting the public are also facing hidden dangers in

their own headquarters, environmental experts said.

Parts of the department's main building have been declared

unsuitable for people. Air-quality tests recently came back positive

for an airborne fungus.

The building is almost 30 years old, and it appears the county will

either have to renovate it or tear it down.

Kathy Hall, who works for the Sheriff's Department, recently found

out that the building she works in could be what has been making her

sick. The office she works in is filled with mold.

" I tend to have more sinus problems, sore throat, sinus pressure and

a few nose bleeds, " Hall said.

Channel 4 investigators recently received a copy of a study on the

Sheriff's Department building. The report states, " Based on air

sample results, portions of the building are considered unsuitable

for general occupancy. "

Sheriff Tommy Seagraves said they were told that some rooms in the

building should not be entered. However, workers have no choice but

to occupy the dangerous rooms to do their jobs.

Another problem at the building is bad wiring. Many of the smoke and

fire detectors in the building don't work.

Five years ago, the county was trying to make changes by building a

new jail and judicial complex. The Sheriff Department was supposed

to move to the new complex, but did not have the funds needed to do

so.

It could cost about $12 million to build a new office, according to

officials. County officials said they don't have that money.

" My hands are tied. All I can do is work with what I've been left to

work with, " Seagraves said.

The county commission said they hope to meet with the sheriff's

department sometime during the week.

The commission told Channel 4 there was no money to make

improvements to the mold-filled building, but said they will find a

way to work on the problem.

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