Ellis County Sheriff’s Office sets up Exchange Zone

Submitted photo.

The Ellis County Sheriff's Office has set up an exchange zone on the southeast side of the county jail.

ELLIS COUNTY — The Ellis County Sheriff's Office announces that it has established an Exchange Zone for personal, business and civil transactions in the parking lot southeast of the jail.

The Exchange Zone is intended to provide a place where people can feel more secure when meeting someone in-person. The two parking spots are marked with Exchange Zone signage and are within view of the parking lot's high definition cameras.

"We're pleased to offer this service to the county's residents," Sheriff Johnny Brown said. "This was an idea someone brought to us after they saw where another law enforcement agency was doing it. We listened to the idea, we liked it and now we've got it in place for everyone's use."

Many people use online marketplaces, such as Facebook pages, to sell and buy items. Often times, those transactions mean people are meeting up face-to-face with strangers. There have been reports of scams and threats during some of those transactions and the Exchange Zone is intended to help address those. Exchange Zones also have been used for civil transactions, such as transferring children for visitation purposes.

"We welcome people to use our Exchange Zone," Brown said. "Because you're likely dealing with strangers on transactions like this, we encourage you to exercise caution – whether you're in our parking lot or somewhere else – anytime money and goods are changing hands."