Lee supervisors examine security issues in courthouses
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FORT MADISON — Area judges and the Lee County Clerk of Court met with the Lee County Board of Supervisors Tuesday to urge them to improve security at the county’s two courthouses.
The meeting was part of an effort by James Blomgren, chief judge of the Eighth Judicial District, to meet with all the boards of supervisors in his district and re-enforce the need for increased security.
“It’s not that our security isn’t good enough. It’s that it just doesn’t exist,” Blomgren said.
Security has been a topic of conversation with supervisors lately. The board recently reinvigorated a task force formed last year to look at security in county buildings. Supervisors also briefly discussed building a new courthouse.
In the meantime, judges and court employees would like more immediate fixes.
“There are things that can be done at little or no cost. It is my goal to get you to think about that,” Blomgren said.
It is unlikely the federal government or the Iowa Legislature will devote funds to local courthouse security anytime soon, so it’s up to counties, which are tasked with maintaining courthouses, to beef up security, Blomgren said.
The South Lee Courthouse, located on the second and third floor of the county office building in Keokuk, is of particular concern.
Supervisor George Morgan called security at the Keokuk courthouse “abysmal.”
“Keokuk is the least safe courthouse I work in, in the district,” said Mary Ann Brown, a district court judge.
The most dangerous people judges deal with tend to be involved in domestic cases, which are often very emotional, Brown said.
Career criminals know how to behave in a courtroom, she said.
Lack of security also leads to contrabands, such as weapons or drugs, being passed from friends and family to inmates when they are brought to court from jail, Sheriff Buck Jones said.
Clerk of Court Tamarra Washington said clerks don’t feel safe working in the South Lee office.
“There are just a number of things happening on a daily basis that bring into question the safety of my staff in that building,” Washington said.
Washington noted jurors also are put at risk by being put in proximity with people possibly accused of violent crimes.
“If I was a juror, I would be very uncomfortable with that,” Washington said.
Jones said he is concerned the second and third floors of the Keokuk building have only a single staircase and a fire escape for exits, which could become an issue in case of an emergency.
At the North Lee Courthouse, an unsecured rear entrance near the judge’s chambers is a cause for concern, said associate district judge Emily Dean.
As part of its quest to address security issues, the county is looking into installing “panic buttons” in the county courthouses.
However, the buttons are only activated after a situation has already begun, notifying law enforcement of an issue. A great deal can happen within the few minutes it takes officers to respond, Morgan said.
One of the most effective security measures the county could take would be to limit the number of entrances into the buildings, Blomgren said. He also noted that having a member of law enforcement present helps keep the peace and calm unruly people.
Many area counties have begun beefing up their security, Blomgren said.
Of the courthouses in the eighth district, Blomgren said Des Moines County has invested the most in security, with measures such as installing cameras and employing security officers.
However, even with all the precautions, it’s hard to stop someone intent on doing harm, Morgan said.
“It’s a shame that suddenly we are wanting to protect the government from we the people. Dynamics have changed a lot in our society,” Morgan said. “I think it’s a delicate balance between public access to public buildings — in fact their buildings — and security.”
The county plans to have a free study of the security at the courthouses done by the United States Marshal’s Office.
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