Patrons of the Washington County Courthouse this week have most likely noticed tighter security as they entered the building and were asked by a deputy posted at the entrance to open their handbags for inspection, empty their pockets into trays near a metal detector -- which they were asked to walk through -- and to stand "spread-eagle" as he passed a wand over their bodies.
On Monday, the Washington County Sheriff's Office took over courthouse security, a deputy taking on the role formerly held by a hired guard from a local security company.
Sheriff Rick Silver said lax security was why he took over security.
He said under the old system many people have been entering the courthouse without being searched.
"People were getting into court with Tasers, knives, things like that," said Silver. "The problem with that obviously is the safety issue, but the other thing is by statute I am responsible for the security of the courthouse."
He said last month he asked county commissioners to let his office take over courthouse security saying that ultimately he felt like having a certified, gun-carrying deputy at the entrance was going to provide better security for the courthouse and its patrons.
"There's a lot of people that come in and out of the courthouse that don't have good intentions for anybody," said Silver.
This week's heightening of security will soon be followed up by another, thanks to a grant from the Department of Homeland Security.
The Sheriff's office will be receiving a $22,000 grant meant specifically for equipment for courthouse security, according to undersheriff Steve Johnson.
Silver said the federal government contacted his office to tell him about the grant after the county never requested grant funds for courthouse security.
"So it was basically an easy grant to get," he said, saying all he had to do was send a fax saying he wanted the funding. He said a day after the grant application deadline, he received a call telling him the Sheriff's office would be receiving $22,000.
He said with grant he is required to attend training after which further instructions will be given.
Silver and Johnson will attending the eight-hour long required training class on Feb. 23 in Oklahoma City.
"We are going to get some training on how to assess courthouse security need and they will help us determine how best to use that money in order to buy equipment for doing what we need to do up here," said Johnson.
The class will provide training on how to perform courthouse risk assessments and will help those attending to gain an understanding of how better to assemble a security program for courthouses, added Silver.
"No courthouse is the same," he said. "This one has got some problems unique to it. They will have some ideas on how to help us."
The grant will likely be a reimburseable grant as are most federal grants, said Silver, saying that most likely the money will be spent on barriers and on better securing courthouse entrances among other things.
"Hopefully, (the front entrance security) will take on a bit more professional look with the grant and the assistance we get from homeland security," he said.
