To the Editor:
This letter is in response to the Jan. 14, 2010, edition of The Free Press Standard, article titled “Courthouse front doors to open?” This article is so chocked full of security issues, I’m amazed that the Commissioners are so “ho-hum” about it. For a frame of reference, my background is in law enforcement and public safety. Additionally, my master’s degree is in Public Health with a concentration in Homeland Security. Essentially, this article tells the entire criminal community the areas of lacked security, both in the Courthouse and in the Sheriff’s Office (S.O.). Inmates and other non-law abiding persons read the paper, and/or have first hand knowledge of the lack of deputies/corrections officers in the jail division. By openly telling these security issues that the S.O. lacks in their state law mandated correctional requirements this places law enforcement officers, the general public, courthouse personnel and even other inmate’s safety in jeopardy. The sheriff himself admits the jail is not meeting the state minimum standards, when directly asked by a commissioner, how long has this been going on, and why isn’t the S.O. being investigated for potential professional negligence? This just didn’t crop up overnight. Isn’t the sheriff required by law to report the status of the jail and office at least once per year to the commissioners? With the S.O. being responsible for enforcing the laws (they themselves are breaking the law) be it an Ohio Administrative Code, Ohio Revised Code or the rules and regulations of the Ohio Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, does any commissioner or private citizen in the county not see this as being a problem? If the S.O. is breaking the law/rules in this instance, what other laws/rules are they breaking, and just haven’t been caught? Just because Carroll County is a rural county, it doesn’t mean the county is exempt from the rules/laws set forth by the legislators in Columbus.
The S.O. is also responsible for security of the courthouse. If they can’t maintain the minimum standards for incarcerated inmates, how can anyone who visits the courthouse for any activity, feel safe? Be it going to the Title Office or appearing as a witness/juror in any of the courts, not having deputies in the courthouse places everyone in jeopardy. If a person starts shooting in a courtroom, how long will it take for deputies to come up through the elevator, run up the stairs or around to the front of the building and find the assailant before he/she leaves the courthouse? My feeling is that it will be too long for the victim(s). Removing deputies, metal detectors and other screening methods other than “video cameras” is asking for disaster to come to the courthouse. Who will monitor those cameras; will they be live or only viewed if a problem occurs? If no one is watching the cameras, then this is pointless and a worthless security measure. If someone is actively monitoring cameras, these cameras do not show weapons under a shirt, in a pocket or anywhere else on the person. And if someone is actively monitoring the camera, why can’t they use a magnetometer or other device to screen visitors and employees as they enter the building. This is replacing one person with another person and nothing has been solved.
Commissioner Garner is quoted as saying “I trust the people who come in here.” In what century is this man living? Day after day shootings or other violence are occurring in federal buildings, public places, and courthouses/rooms around the country. Though there is no such thing as a 100% secure facility, having no deputies, no security measures and an open door policy invites a preventable event to occur. If the county can’t afford the salary of a deputy at $40,000, how will they fare when they have to pay a wrongful death lawsuit in the millions of dollars for no or little security efforts in the courthouse or Sheriff’s Department? The Department of Homeland Security and other entities gives millions of dollars in grants for this very thing, has the S.O. explored these options before making a suggestion to scrap courthouse and jail security? Fire departments and other agencies throughout the county have reaped the benefits of these and other grants, why hasn’t the S.O.?
There are many probing questions in this article someone needs to legitimately answer and not snowball the citizens of the County with rhetoric and sob-stories of budget constraints or inappropriate spending. Everyone is suffering from this and this is not a legitimate excuse to skirt the law or expectations of the citizens/visitors of the county. This is not a personal attack on the hard working deputies/corrections officers serving valiantly each day, but serves to question the leadership and/or decisions of the S.O., the commissioners and the other elected officials in the county.
Kyle Lyons, MPH, BSN, RN
Severn, MD
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