Officials debate courthouse security options after staff report knife incident
Summary
One officeholder urged county funding for dedicated security at a county building after staff reported an incident; commissioners discussed reinstating a bailiff, using sheriff patrols or school resource officers and emphasized the need for defined duties and consistent presence.
A county officeholder said staff in her building have reported safety incidents and urged the court to restore or provide dedicated security, noting the presence of people experiencing homelessness and at least one incident where a knife was displayed to staff. The speaker said she has asked for security for years and recommended consideration of a bailiff or other consistent presence beyond occasional courthouse security walkthroughs.
“I have forever wanted security in this building, asked for it for years,” the officeholder said, describing an episode when a customer’s behavior made a clerk feel unsafe. Commissioners discussed alternatives — reinstating a bailiff position, assigning a school resource/officer model with defined duties, or using patrol deputies for routine visits — and emphasized the need for a clear job description and data to ensure any assigned officer focuses on the intended coverage.
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