GCC says 'thanks but no thanks' to CCA

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville City Council members Thursday said no to a security request assistance from Corrections Corporation of America.

CCA is setting up a federal immigration detention center in the old county jail in Midtown under a lease contract with the Hall County Commission.
Mayor Protem Ruth Bruner listened to Police Chief Frank Hooper and City Attorney James Palmour about the agreement.

"We're certainly not willing to put in money and possible liability issues to help them enforce it," Bruner said, adding that City Council did not want a long term incarceration facility in downtown Gainesville to begin with.

"I don't know what kind of operation they're going to have over there," Chief Hooper said. "Nobody has approached me or presented me with what their policies and procedures are."

The Chief said the city does not have a jail suppression unit and it would be very expensive to train and equip one.
Hooper added that he understood CCA personnel would not be armed except with 'tasers' and tear gas and asked how CCA would live up to their proposed mutual aid agreement.

CCA also offered to indemnify Gainesville police as part of the agreement, but City Attorney James â