Published: May 27, 2008 08:20 am      

Sheriff taking over all county court security

On Sunday, Kentucky sheriffs will assume all security duties in family, district and circuit courts.

The name “bailiff” will pass into history, replaced by “court security officer.”

The officers will be responsible for extended courtroom security and for transporting prisoners. They will be thoroughly screened and required to undergo 80 hours of training each year, said Madison County Sheriff Nelson O’Donnell.

Under the old system, bailiffs had jurisdiction only on the courthouse premises, O’Donnell said.

The new system was adopted by the Kentucky General Assembly with support from the Kentucky Sheriffs’ Association.

In the future, officers who operate metal detectors at courthouse entrances will be armed and wear uniforms similar to sheriff’s deputies.

Currently, people going into district or family court must pass through door-frame-type metal detectors.

Similar doorway security is not in place for circuit court, which is conducted on the top floor of the Madison County Courthouse.

O’Donnell said those arrangements will not change.

“Personally, I feel that circuit court should have (doorway security) at all times,” he said. “But, I think the state Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) should provide funds for the equipment and operating personnel. So far, they haven’t seen fit to do that.”

His office does not have the necessary funds, the sheriff said. “And, I don’t think (fiscal court) has the funds, either.”

The rising cost of gasoline is squeezing the budgets of law enforcement agencies that depend on motor vehicles for their work, O’Donnell said.

In any case, security problems are more likely to occur in district or family court, the sheriff said. “In circuit court, the prisoners are usually restrained.”

In high-profile cases, such as a murder trials, when tensions are expected to run high, O’Donnell said extra officers can be assigned.

Hand-held metal detectors, which the sheriff’s department owns, also can be used.

When necessary, an AOC door screener can be brought in, he said.

O’Donnell said he also would like AOC to provide video surveillance systems for courtroom security, but again, it has not done so and county funds are not available.

The sheriff knows first-hand how easily tragedy can occur in the courtroom.

He was scheduled to be in Knott County District Court in the late 1980s, the day after a man walked into the courtroom and shot two people dead.

“He knew he could find his victims in court,” O’Donnell said. “A constable pulled his gun on the guy as he walked out of the courtroom and took him to jail.”

When the Kentucky Association of Counties brought a weapons simulator to Richmond to train officers here last week, it included scenarios of courtroom violence.

Local judges, and well as law enforcement officers, were invited to try it.

Madison Circuit Judge William Jennings was first to try the system that resembles a giant video game.

In the first scenario, human figures popped up in a cartoon-like setting.

Jennings methodically knocked them all down in rapid succession with the simulator pistol.

A more realistic scenario depicted a handcuffed prisoner knocking a bailiff unconscious with a two-fisted upper cut to the chin. He then grabbed the bailiff’s gun from its holster.

Jennings fired at the screen, taking the assailant down with one shot.

“Now we all know what he carries under his robe,” said trainer Brian Roy.

“I don’t carry a gun, but I wouldn’t be surprised if some Kentucky judges do,” said Jennings who has expressed concern about circuit court security in the past.

He keeps in his office a videotape of a 1990 incident in which a defendant tried to attack a witness who had just testified.

“Fortunately, we anticipated the defendant's actions and had called in extra security,” Jennings said.

Four officers subdued the defendant after he had been immobilized with a stun gun.

“Regardless of the procedures or the equipment you have in place,” AOC security chief Vick Travis said last week, “they are only as good as the people on the scene.”

Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 623-1669, Ext. 267.