That unplugged metal detector sealed the fate of Harris County Juvenile Detention Center Executive Director Harvey Hetzel and Deputy Director Bob Husbands.
"The machine hadn't been functioning since April 2006 or hadn't been plugged in since April 2006," said Harris County Judge Ed Emmett.
But it wasn't discovered until November 9, three years and seven months later, when a 16-year-old got into the facility with a gun. The event prompted a recommendation by Emmett that the two men step down. Emmett was prepared to put the issue up to a juvenile board vote, but it never came to that. Both men submitted their resignations effective December 31.
"This is a good time to make some changes," said Harris County Judge Ed Emmett.
With that the board unanimously voted to name Thomas Brooks as acting executive director. And dr. Terry Snow-Smith as acting deputy director, effective immediately.
Brooks, who had been the deputy director of intake services, has 26 years with the county. He says the metal detector was just a symptom of a center infested with problems that he has promised to solve.
"There's an underlying current of people not coming forth of accepting the norm, and that's something we are going to stop," said Brooks.
Dr. Snow-Smith has spent 24 years with the county. During her preliminary investigation, she says she was shocked by what she's heard from employees.
"The most surprising thing was the level of complacency, passing the buck which is never acceptable," said told us.
Even when the metal detector issue was reported, it fell on deaf ears and the new bosses say that will never happen again.
