Commission hears opposing views on courthouse security screening

Retired Probate Judge Wallace White Jr. questioned the scope and consistency of security screening at the Pel City courthouse, saying he sometimes observed people bypassing checkpoints while others were required to remove belts and pass through scanners. "If we're going to search one, search them all," he said, arguing for consistent application.

A circuit‑clerk office representative and other staff pushed back, describing incidents in which deputies found knives, guns and—even once—a hatchet at courthouse entrances and saying screening helped protect staff and vulnerable visitors. "They've ... found everything from knives, guns, even a hatchet before," the clerk said, and recounted an episode where deputies intervened to protect a visitor and her mentally challenged son.

Commissioners acknowledged the dual responsibilities: the courts and sheriff set security standards while the county funds and provides deputies. The chair noted the county remains under guidance from the Alabama Supreme Court on providing court security, but said operational details require cooperation among the sheriff, district attorney and the commission. No formal policy change was adopted; commissioners agreed to keep the issue under review and to seek approaches that balance safety and public access.