To The Editor:
Being a former law enforcement officer with 31 years of service, I was greatly disturbed as was, apparently, Kyle Lyons when I read the Jan. 14 article regarding courthouse security. The security I observed on the occasions I visited the Carroll County Courthouse has been minimal at best.
To further reduce the current levels of courtroom and building security could be disastrous and lead to a needless loss of life. All the apologies, extension of sympathy to the families of the dead or injured and the political posturing after the fact will not bring back the dead or repair the injured. Any lucid person living in our world today is aware of the dangers from terrorism sources outside and inside our communities. I was also greatly concerned when I read Commissioner Garner’s comment “I trust the people who come in here”. Does Commissioner Garner know and trust the defendant in a domestic violence case who has a history of mental illness and alcoholism/drug abuse who has decided that his wife/girlfriend, the police and the judge don’t understand him and are to blame for all his troubles in life? How would Commissioner Garner recommend that the defendant be dealt with when he enters the courtroom with a semi/full automatic weapon concealed under his clothing, along with an ample supply of ammunition? Will Commissioner Garner appear in the courtroom to calm the defendant and disarm him if necessary? I think not.
Since law enforcement presence is not in the courtroom and most likely downstairs in the jail, the defendant will have full opportunity to open unrestricted fire on all the innocent victims in the courtroom. The judge and his tormentors will be the first to go, then members of the jury and spectators are next. When he is done in the courtroom our suspect now roams the halls and offices to see who else he can make pay for his worldly troubles. Why not? He knows his time is now limited, he came to do damage and damage he will do.
What if he visits Commissioner Garner in his office? What happens to the Sheriff’s deputy who has to wade into the middle of this tragic event not knowing for sure who the perpetratorsare and who are the innocent people.
Imagine this scene from the deputy’s view: “Who do I shoot at? There are people running and screaming all over. There is gun smoke in air and people are lying on the floor, some are trying to crawl. There is blood on the floor, alot of blood! I have never seen anything like this in all my years of service. Who has the gun? “Oh my God!! There he is he is raising his gun, I am sorry I was too slow to re-act I just did not want to shoot any innocent people. Oh this really hurts, I can’t move my legs; I can’t return fire. “Who is trying to hold me up? It’s that girl from the title office. She’s telling me I will be all right, I don’t think so it hurts so bad, I still hear gun fire. Why is it getting so dark, I thought it was morning. Something wet and sticky is all underneath me, tell my wife and kids I love them, not to worry I will be home soon, I can’t see anything…”
Within 30 minutes, Carroll County Sheriff deputies, assisted by Carrollton Police officers, a Multi County Swat Team and the Ohio State Patrol were able to secure the Courthouse and corner the suspect who ultimately took the cowardly way out and committed suicide with a gunshot wound to the head.
The final fatality total was two Carroll County deputies killed, a judge, the defendant and her attorney were killed, one County Commissioner killed, one coward by suicide, along with 14 courtroom spectators and courthouse employees. Nineteen people suffered a variety of gunshot wounds, fall and injuries from flying glass. Several hours were required to triage and transport all the wounded due to the minimal ambulance medical services available in Carroll County. Ambulances and life flight services had to be brought in from as far away as Cleveland and Akron. Most victims are expected to recover. Carroll County made the national news media as CNN, Fox and numerous others descended with microphones and cameras to ask the victims and victims’ families “how they felt” and what may have caused this tragedy. For several days the media “talking heads” discussed how this could happen in small town America, then Carroll County was forgotten. What was left was the grief and dispair suffered by the families of the dead, the families of the wounded and permanently disabled and the extended victims from this horrible incident. One thing was for certain: the people of Carroll County knew why this happened without the help of the media: THE COURTHOUSE FRONT DOORS WERE OPENED!
Immediately after this fateful day the Courthouse doors were closed and the next day Courthouse security was tripled, never to be compromised again. Most people on the Square said it was a little late, as the saying goes in most farm communities “the horse was already out of the barn”. As some said, “the current commissioners will certainly be remembered.”
One year later, Carroll County was placed under state financial receivership due to the massive personal injury and loss of life lawsuits, the cost of repairing the physical damage done to the historic Courthouse due to gunfire. It took almost a decade for Carroll County to recover fiscally and psychologically.
If anyone thinks this scenario does not happen look at what happened at Courthouses around our country last year alone and the number of police officers and civilians killed in courthouses where security was thought to be very good.
I ardently urge the citizens of Carroll County to contact your commissioners and implore them not to compromise our Courthouse security in any way. They need to repair and place back in service the metal detector and X-ray equipment at the current security checkpoint. Courthouse and checkpoint police staffing should be funded as deemed necessary by Sheriff Williams. I would also urge commissioners to provide greater support and funding for our County Sheriff and his deputies. When Sheriff Williams makes recommendations relating to security and other law enforcement matters, follow his recommendations.
Sheriff Williams is a dedicated, very professional police officer with many years of experience. We elected this man for a reason. Please, allow him to do his job and respect his knowledge and experience. He and his staff have proven over and over their dedication and professionalism by arresting drug dealers, drug users and other criminals in our county. Our deputies are working for wages well below other law enforcement officers in this state and with minimal equipment and staffing resources. It is about time the people and commissioners realize this situation and take steps to address the issue.
There is no funding more important than safety services in a community. If Carroll County ever wants to see economic growth we need to provide good law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services. Prospective employers look for these attributes when deciding to locate in an area. Remember the more economic growth Carroll County acquires the less taxes the residents pay and the more we all prosper. Please, don’t be complacent. Call, write or visit in person to let your commissioners know your feelings and concerns.
Jeffrey James Caldwell
Retired IPD Police Officer
Dellroy, OH
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