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Dimmit County court orders draft metal‑detector policy after public and staff safety concerns
Summary
After staff and public raised safety and screening concerns, the Dimmit County Commissioners Court voted to direct staff and counsel to draft a countywide courthouse metal‑detector policy for future approval.
Dimmit County’s commissioners directed staff and the county attorney to draft a comprehensive metal‑detector policy for the county courthouse after an extended discussion about staff safety, bag searches and operational gaps in screening.
A public commenter told the court she supported metal detectors but objected to what she described as security staff searching purses and handling prescribed medication without consent. County officials and courthouse staff described instances they said raised safety concerns and said some courthouse employees felt like "sitting ducks." Several commissioners and staff also described practical problems including gaps in guard coverage, camera blind spots and side doors with key-card access.
The county’s attorney and commissioners discussed whether enforcement should wait for a formal written policy. The judge repeatedly said the county had received grant funding and that "everybody that comes into the courthouse must go through the metal detector," while the county attorney said policy must be adopted by the court and staff should comply with a court‑approved policy.
Commissioner Lugawa moved and Commissioner Juan seconded a motion to draft a welcoming but comprehensive metal‑detector policy and return it to the commissioners court for approval; the motion passed by voice vote.
The court asked staff to collect sample policies from other counties and to address related operational questions — camera coverage, back-door access, procedures for elderly or disabled visitors, and staffing or sheriff coverage when the security guard is not present. The court did not adopt a final policy at the meeting; it directed staff and counsel to prepare a draft for a subsequent session.
