Sheriff proposes random entrance security checks and panic buttons at courthouse

The sheriff’s office briefed commissioners on courthouse and county office security needs and proposed a set of short‑term and longer‑term measures. Sheriff staff said courtroom security (two POST‑certified court deputies) must remain in place and that using those staff to cover front‑door screening would not be feasible without new positions. As an immediate step, the sheriff proposed random spot checks at the main entrance (for example a few hours per week) and pre‑scheduling deputy presence for meetings expected to draw contentious attendance.

Sheriff staff also recommended panic buttons in elected officials’ offices and other high‑risk areas that would tie into dispatch, and suggested crisis‑intervention/de‑escalation training for front‑line staff. Commissioners asked for cost estimates for panic buttons and for a concise plan to coordinate spot checks with scheduling of public meetings. "We can do some prescheduling...if you guys feel like you have a hot topic on the agenda, we can provide somebody," the sheriff said. Several commissioners favored working quickly on panic buttons and staff training to reduce staff anxiety and improve response times.

No permanent screening machines or metal detectors were proposed immediately because of space/egress constraints and fire‑marshal concerns; the sheriff said those systems previously created egress problems in the building. The board asked staff to return with costs and an implementation plan for panic buttons, a schedule for rolling spot checks, and a short training proposal for staff de‑escalation.