August 19, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
Securing the courthouse immediately?
During a meeting Thursday night, members of the county commission’s public works committee discussed measures for tightening security immediately at the courthouse as proposed by General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge Brandon Cox.
Although Judge Cox was unable to attend the meeting with this committee, he has met with the budget committee twice within the last 16 months on a plan for addressing the issue. Four months ago Judge Cox requested that funds be allocated to enhance security in the courthouse to include, among other measures, establishing one main entrance with a full-time security officer and a screening station (metal detector) through which the public would enter the building. All other outside doors to the courthouse would be locked to prevent entry by the public.
Following months of inaction by the county on his requests, Judge Cox is apparently growing impatient and wants immediate action.
“I have talked to Brandon and he is really pushing that we implement some measures to have better courthouse security,” said County Mayor Matt Adcock during Thursday night’s committee meeting. “ He is very insistent. He came to me and said I am not going to have court over here anymore until you have one entrance. I told him we need to wait until we talk to Dustin Estes (Administrator of Elections) about this law (preventing armed officers near voter polling places). I also told him that we need to wait until after this election in November. He said we can do things today so that is what started us to where we are at,” said County Mayor Adcock.
Administrator of Elections Dustin Estes said while security is important, he advised the committee to think it through with the November election on the way.
“I understand security is very important with court being held here and security is the biggest push to get our (election commission) office moved from the courthouse to the county complex,” said Estes. “ But I want you to evaluate your decision keeping in mind that we have a November Presidential election coming up with possibly two referendums on the ballot. We are going to have a huge voter turnout and an unusual amount of traffic to register, update addresses, etc. I understand security and I am not bashing the idea. I think its very important because bad things can happen but also consider your decisions and how they can impact other offices while we are here,” added Estes.
Kim Luton, a member of the election commission, also addressed the committee reminding them that armed guards at an entrance to a voting site could be viewed as voter intimidation. “ It’s a state law you can’t have armed guards in the voting area with voter registration and early voting going on because that’s a sign of voter intimidation which could result in other problems. There could be lawsuits. That’s where we are coming from,” said Luton. “I would like to lock this down to help Brandon (Judge Cox) but we are looking at a whole different ball of wax because this is going to be a huge election We ask you to sit tight and get us (election commission) out of here (to a new location at county complex) first before you implement this,” said Luton.
Dennis Stanley, former Administrator of Elections, attended the meeting and echoed Luton’s concerns during the public comment period.”The law is very clear about having security at polling sites. An armed officer cannot be within a certain amount of feet of a polling location without the request of the election commission,” said Stanley.
WJLE reached out to Judge Cox over the weekend for a comment and he has responded in the following prepared statement:
“First, the reason I had a renewed push for security is the incident that occurred at the Monroe County Justice Center wherein a man armed with a semi-automatic rifle entered the premises and began shooting. Fortunately, Monroe County had security and the man was stopped before he hurt anyone. That would not have happened in DeKalb. That man would have had free run of the courthouse until police arrived on scene,” said Judge Cox
“Next, I have no desire to interfere with the election and have advocated no policy that would affect their business. The discussions I have had included allowing for the first floor entrance to be unlocked for early voting,” he said
“Additionally, as you note in this article, I suggested the main entrance would be on the East side of the courthouse, and therefore, there would be no “armed security” by the polling site. Tennessee Code Annotated 2-7-103 only prohibits law enforcement from being within 10 feet of the entrance unless called in for emergency or to vote. The East entrance is not within 10 feet and it has a ramp for handicap access,” Judge Cox explained.
“I have suggested that it is getting to a point where I’m not going to hold court unless the building is secured. This is less for my safety than it is for the safety of all the county employees and public present at the courthouse. When I’m on the bench, there are typically four deputies on the third floor. The other floors are left insecure and anyone can walk in the building,” he said
“I am glad to hear that there is movement to address this issue as I’ve been requesting the same since 2022. And I’m also pleased that the election commission may be getting adequate space at the complex. That helps for security purposes but also can free up some space for the initiatives we’re working on in juvenile court, safe baby court and recovery court,” said Judge Cox.
“Court business is necessarily adversarial. People fight over property, children, and their freedom in that building. And a great number of folks are not happy with decisions I or the other judges make. On top of all that we have a significant mental health crisis in our community. With that as the backdrop, it is absurd to ask county employees that work at the courthouse to “hold tight” and hope nothing happens until after the election. We have the capacity to make common sense, cost effective changes to address this issue now,” Judge Cox concluded.
County Mayor Adcock informed the public works committee Thursday evening that several options for better courthouse security have been considered.
“We are like the only county I know of in the state that you can walk in without going through a metal detector. People walk in here all the time with weapons and all kinds of other stuff they are not supposed to have in the courthouse,” said County Mayor Adcock. “Brandon and I got together and combined some thoughts on things we could do now and in the future. We even talked about key cards for the doors. I ventured into looking at the costs on what some of that would be and it was crazy ridiculous, like $2,800 a door and that doesn’t count the system, wiring and all the rest that comes with it. We would be looking at probably $12,000 to $15,000 just for that. All the employees have keys anyway so I don’t think we even need key cards,” explained County Mayor Adcock.
“Our thought as of today is to lock all the entrances but the bottom. The basement would be the one public entrance to come through and a security guard or deputy would be there with a metal detector and a wand. The employees could still use the upper floor entrances with their keys to enter work spaces but they would be advised not to let anyone else in. On days when deputies and court officers are not here and when we have multiple courts in session with officers having to be in the courtroom, we have thought about contracting with a vendor to supply armed security in the same way hospitals and some businesses do. I even thought about hiring a civilian, but they have to go through all kinds of training and meet certain regulations for armed security. I have already gotten quotes from some security agencies in the middle Tennessee area. One quote was for $55 per hour. I’m still looking to get more quotes,” said County Mayor Adcock.
Committee member Mathias Anderson thought getting security vendor quotes was a good idea.
“I make a motion that we get some estimates from a reputable company. I think it (armed security) needs to be done sooner than later, even on court days. Its dangerous because this is a government building with government officials. Just because court is not in session doesn’t mean there is not a threat level,” said Anderson.
The committee approved Anderson’s motion.
The public works committee will review quotes or estimates received at the next meeting and possibly make a recommendation to the purchasing committee for a review.
During the public comment period, Stephen Cantrell reminded the committee of a courthouse security study approved by the state fire marshal a couple of years ago which was presented at that time by Emergency Management Agency Director Charlie Parker.
“Charlie Parker has a study that was done for the security of this building. I have heard about the study but not seen it. The study was done with the state fire marshal. Money has been spent for that study but my understanding is that it was being held up until a resolution on the justice center. I mentioned it at a previous meeting,” said Cantrell. Secondly, you want one entrance, agreed. You don’t want to have any other access to anybody with a key. I have been in two buildings where people brought in weapons that killed somebody that were trusted agents,” Cantrell explained.
Initially, County Mayor Adcock said he didn’t recall the study but then remembered that it may have been not for security of the entire building but for public access to the third floor from one second floor stairwell going through a metal detector. At the bottom of the other stairwell from the third to second floor would be a glass encased vestibule for exiting only.
The Courthouse Security Request as presented by Judge Cox in April to the budget committee is as follows:
Main Entrance Issues:
- Establish one (1) main entrance through which the public can enter the court building. (for ADA compliance, this would of necessity need to be the east entrance with the ramp).
- Install appropriate signage at the main entrance to alert the public what items cannot be brought into the court building (e.g., guns, knives, mace, scissors, etc.) and that all persons are subject to search by security personnel.
- All other exterior doors will remain locked at all hours, including business hours.
- Emergency exit crash bars should be installed on all exterior doors and all exterior doors should be alarmed, with a ten second delay consistent with local codes.
- Establish appropriate signage for “Exit Only” doors.
- Set up a screening station, including a Magnetometer at the main entrance.
- Install or adjust cameras to cover all exterior doors.
- Implement keycard, coded access to the south entrance (basement level) for approved personnel.
Offices and Work Areas:
- Implement keycard or coded access to all offices and work areas, with only authorized individuals being permitted access for each such office.
- Install plexiglass enclosure over all public counters.
- Install, update all duress alarms.
- Install doors with glass panes in all mediation and conference type rooms.
- Install or upgrade security cameras to capture public encounters consistent with maintaining confidentiality in the offices or work areas.
Parking:
- Provide for judicial and clerk parking toward the south entrance (basement level) of the building, having signage of “RESERVED” and remove all language of “Judge” or “Clerk”, etc.
- Install security cameras that cover the parking area.
- Do not permit in-custody defendants to be near the parking area.
Personnel:
- Provide for one (1) full time security officer to operate the manometer and screen all individuals entering the courthouse.
- Provide for coordination between the security officer and the court officers present when court is in session”.