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Montgomery County panel outlines courthouse security upgrades and sheriff staffing shortfalls
Summary
At an Oct. 27 public safety work session, county and court officials described completed and planned courthouse security upgrades in Rockville and Silver Spring and said a recent staffing study recommends larger sworn and non‑sworn complements; the sheriff reported roughly 30 vacancies and several recruit classes in training.
On Oct. 27 the Montgomery County Council's Public Safety Committee heard updates on courthouse security work and staffing for court services, with court administrators and the sheriff urging additional resources as design work and hiring continue.
County staff summarized recommendations from a state task force and a PFM workload study that emphasize three priorities: adequate security personnel, secure parking and secure public spaces. A county staff member said PFM's workload analysis does not incorporate the higher minimum staffing levels recommended by the state task force and that meeting those minimums would require more positions than PFM identified.
The briefing focused on the county's North Tower Security Project in Rockville, where officials said phase 1 is complete and phase 2 (extending badge access and secure doors to additional floors) is in design. "The secure elevator is now secured from top to bottom via card," Montgomery County circuit court administrator Tim Sheridan said, adding that the final design will determine cost and likely require additional capital funding.
A judge described a recent courthouse incident that underscored the need for improved circulation and separation between the public and judicial staff. The judge said a family member of someone involved in a case became "extremely upset" after a hearing and action had to be taken, illustrating the safety rationale for the secure circulation plan.
Montgomery County's sheriff updated the committee on staffing and recruiting efforts. He said the office commissioned a third‑party staffing study that recommended significant increases in sworn and non‑sworn personnel and that the department is hiring non‑sworn professionals to handle functions previously performed by deputies, such as domestic violence support and eviction‑related services. The sheriff reported current vacancies of "around 30, 32," noting seven recruits are in the academy and a January recruit class is expected to add about 10 more deputies after field training.
Officials discussed different court security models, including contracted screeners for entrances, deputy sheriffs in courtrooms and the possible use of special police officers (SPOs) in some roles. The sheriff said labor‑union considerations and the need to maintain a high level of service would guide any shift in staffing models.
Panelists reviewed operations and maintenance arrangements for electronic security equipment. Tim Sheridan said badge readers and doorbells are supported through a countywide contractor and that the Administrative Office of the Courts covers some electronic components; door and frame lead times and construction costs are the main drivers of the project's budget.
Committee members asked about data transparency for extreme risk protective orders and about contingency planning for federal law enforcement presence at courthouses. County officials said they have protocols requiring notification when federal agents are in a courthouse, that they have had discussions with partners about contingency planning, and that they have not experienced disruptive courtroom incidents to date.
Next steps include finalizing phase 2 designs to produce cost estimates for the capital improvement program and incorporating staffing needs and overtime pressures into the upcoming county budget process. Officials said some improvements have already been implemented and that additional funding requests may follow once design and cost estimates are complete.
