Jefferson County plans metal detectors, baggage screening and more armed guards at Human Services Building after incidents

Todd Caulfield, Jefferson County safety and security supervisor, told the General Services Committee in its May meeting that county facilities have seen increases in access-control failures, aggressive visitors, unhoused people sheltering on county property and theft or vandalism.

"Access control is the foundation of a good security program," Caulfield said, describing it as "the first line of defense" for county buildings. He told the committee that public-facing facilities must balance openness with employee safety and that staff sometimes allow unscreened people in through side doors, which undermines access controls.

Caulfield outlined several recurring problems: agitated visitors who escalate quickly, unhoused people loitering and sleeping on county property, and thefts linked to substance-use issues. He described a recent apparent fentanyl exposure at a DMV counter after a visitor produced a white powder while surrendering license plates; staff closed and decontaminated the area, and Caulfield said the substance was later identified as a fentanyl derivative. He said the county has obtained Narcan and sent staff for Narcan training.

To address those risks, Caulfield described a series of operational and physical measures already in use and planned for the Human Services Building (HSB) and other county locations: limiting public entry to designated doors, badge-based card-reader access for employees, on-site security guards (county guards and contracted armed guards), camera monitoring, a silent desk-phone alert for staff and tailored staff training including workplace violence and active-shooter response.

On planned facility upgrades at HSB, Caulfield said BCA Architects and Engineers is developing conceptual remodel plans that would add a walkthrough metal detector and a baggage-inspection screener so all clients entering HSB would be scanned, similar to airport screening. "Anybody entering will have to go through the metal detector. Everybody will have to get their bag or other items screened. If you do not, you do not get in the building," Caulfield said. He explicitly said the county currently has no plans to make employees pass through the new screening.

Caulfield said the county already uses two classes of guards: county building guards and contracted armed security guards, the latter able to "delay and defend in an emergency." He recommended expanding armed security coverage to additional sites, saying, "My recommendation would be armed security at all locations. For example, HSB, done. County Office Building, done. Public Health, done. Historic Courthouse, it would be nice to have an armed guard downstairs here."

Legislator Freeman told the committee that the metal detector equipment is on order and that once it arrives the county plans to install it in-house; Freeman said staff hope installation will take place this summer. Caulfield confirmed the county is moving its badge and camera systems toward Genetec (currently using Winpak and Genetec for cameras) and described a recently implemented Cisco desk-phone silent alert—colloquially called a "jerk button"—that notifies security without an audible alarm.

Caulfield stressed training and the human element, saying staff must practice situational awareness and that the county provides tailored training such as de-escalation and active-attacker response. He said security footage is provided to law enforcement on request and that guards monitor surveillance to detect patterns of loitering or suspicious behavior.

No committee action or vote was taken on Caulfield’s recommendations during the presentation. Committee discussion included clarifying the installation timeline for screening equipment and operational details for the silent alert and contracted guards.

Looking ahead, Caulfield asked the county to remain flexible and allocate resources to locations with the greatest risk; he said the Human Services Building currently has the highest assessed risk and that planned screening and staffing changes are intended to reduce that risk.