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OBITUARIES
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NO OBITUARY NOTICES
WERE PUBLISHED IN
THIS WEEK'S EDITION
OBITUARIES FROM THE
JULY 15TH ISSUE
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02-04-2010 Court House Security Discussed
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Court House Security Discussed
By Dave Maxwell
 Without question, security at the Lincoln County Courthouse in Pioche is lax. During a telephone call to the County Commission meeting Monday, District Court Judge Daniel Papez addressed the issue by speakerphone from his office in Ely.
County Sheriff Kerry Lee said there are really two security issues that need to be looked at. First, is the courthouse, and second, the court room.
Spurred on by the recent shooting at the federal court house in Las Vegas, and an actual shooting of a judge in Reno a few years ago, and increasing violence in other places throughout the country, Judge Papez said the Lincoln County Courthouse was "vulnerable to violence just like any courthouse in America."
Therefore, he was going to issue an order that awalk-through metal detector be installed in the courthouse. He said funds to pay for the metal detector and a hand-held smaller detector, are available from his court administrative assessment funds, about $6,000, and would not impact the County's budget. He said detectors made by Garrett, have been used for several years at the courthouse in Ely and have proved very successful, with little maintenance needed.
The detector in Pioche would probably only be in use during days court is in session. Where to put the device was another topic of discussion. However, Judge Papez said the location of the scanner was undecided at this time for several reasons. But it should be a location, "that would have the least intrusion on people coming to the courthouse for business. I have an obligation to make the courtroom a safe environment for people, where they can litigate their problems and their issues. Safe for personnel, safe for the parties that are litigating, and safe for the citizens of Lincoln County that come and appear for jury duty."
The scanner could be placed at the double glass doors, entering the courthouse, and would be the only entrance into the building on court days, or another idea would place the scanner at the single door going into the seating area in the rear of the courtroom. All other doors into the courtroom would be locked, but other doors in the building would be open.
In addition, Papez said he was going to follow suit of other counties and not allow firearms of any kind to come in the courthouse at any time, even law enforcement personnel. He said such an order was issued by the Nevada Supreme Court for the courthouse in Ely. "There is a good argument to be made for not allowing any kind of a weapon into the courthouse, period. Every courthouse in Nevada has the same issue."
It was admitted, though, that weapons might still be able to be smuggled into the courthouse in some manner, and that needs to be looked at carefully as to how to avoid someone who is determined to cause trouble. A person could bring a weapon of some kind to the courthouse, and hide it, on days when screening is not being done, and pick it up at the appropriate time.
Sheriff Lee stated that the courthouse, built in 1938, was not built with security in mind. Speaking to Commissioners, he said, "I know that we have to do something. I have been concerned about it for years, but have never voiced my concerns to you guys as a group, but maybe individually. We've got to get some kind of security up here, at least on days court is being held."
He thought it would be "very difficult to screen the entire courthouse the day of court. We would be better off to screen those going in and out of the courtroom."
Lee said the metal detector is only one issue, "the other issue is the doors. The double doors going into the courtroom are totally unsecure even when they are locked. All you have to do is go up and pull them open and they come open."
He suggested four new doors be purchased and installed going into the courtroom. He said he has looked into pricing for a set of new metal doors equipped with crash bars, and the cost, including installation, would be about $15,500. Judge Papez offered money from the administrative assessment account to pay for new doors to the courtroom.
Manpower was another matter of concern to Lee, who noted that on court days, especially district court; it would take two officers to work security: one to be on the metal detector and one to be the bailiff.
Commissioners Ronda Hornbeck and Bill Lloyd both noted a problem remains, even with a metal detector going into the courtroom, in that all the witnesses, and other people, have to wait in the hallway. "Are you really protected by just the metal detector going in the courtroom?"
Lee said he was talking specifically about courtroom security, and courthouse security was, "a whole other monster. My thing is let's start by securing the courtroom, and we'll work on everything else from there."
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