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I'm surprised that weapons are allowed down inside a jail. I worked 25 years in uniform in NY State's prison system, and there was never a time in any of the three prisons I worked at, where weapons were allowed inside them. All weapons were held in the arsenal, and there was a special area where weapons were picked up and returned. No one, not even Border Patrol, State Police, and local police and Sheriff's Department were allowed to come into the facility without first turning their weapons into the arsenal. The only times weapons were withdrawn from the arsenal were for escort trips outside the facility, outside hospital coverage, and weapons qualification, which was conducted off facility grounds. Several officers wore their weapons to work, but of course would have to surrender them to the arsenal officer before being allowed through the double sallyport gate, and would pick them up again on their way home.

The only time I recall anything ever being brought into the facility was when I worked at Auburn in the early 80's. They had one large mess hall, with an enclosed gas booth set on the back wall, close to the ceiling. For breakfast, lunch and supper meals, while the facility was shut down for the count, and all inmates were in their cells, the officer who was assigned to cover the gas booth during the meals, would receive containers of gas that they would have to carry through the facility yard, and into the locked gas booth, and remain there throughout the meal. There was a special gas dispenser system installed in the booth, so the officer was there just in case there was ever a problem in the mess hall, and he could respond. However, at the time, I believe it was only a Captain or above who could authorize the use of gas. Once the mess hall was closed, and the inmates were all back in their cells, the officer would return the cans of gas back to the arsenal.