MDC gets eyes on inmates

The idea that someone who is awaiting trial for allegedly shooting another person in the face could simply pose as another inmate, use his wristband and walk out of jail should terrify each and every one of us.

That’s exactly what played out earlier this month at Bernalillo County’s Metropolitan Detention Center when Duwin Perez-Cordova was released after he posed as his cellmate. A few hours after gaining his freedom, Perez-Cordova allegedly committed an armed robbery at a North Valley business, and he’s still on the loose.

“It happened on my watch, and we take responsibility for it,” MDC Chief Greg Rees says. The internal review of the incident is continuing.

It goes without saying MDC messed up in a big way, but Rees deserves credit first for owning it and second for taking steps to ensure it never happens again. He announced Wednesday the jail will soon start scanning the irises of all inmates as soon as they are booked into jail. Inmates will then have their eyes scanned again when leaving to make sure the right person is being released.

Rees said the equipment will cost the county less than $20,000 a year, and the system could be up and running as early as July. If it prevents another debacle like this one, it will be money well spent. In the meantime, let’s hope Perez-Cordova doesn’t hurt anyone before he’s captured.