Stronger courthouse security
renders mixed opinions
By Jamie Teibel
Summer
Editor
Disagreement is the word of the week at the Tippecanoe
County Courthouse. The dispute between Tippecanoe County commissioners
and Circuit Court Judge Ronald Melchiar began Monday, continued for
about eight hours on Tuesday, and will conclude today, beginning at
8:30 a.m.
All who testified on Tuesday disagreed with Judge
Melichar and his mandate to reduce access to the courthouse from eight
doors, down to one or two.
Mrs. Betty Michael, who works in the clerk's office,
said that if the security concentrates on one or two entrances, with
so many employees, it would take longer for workers to enter the building,
therefore starting their day later. Basically, Michael thinks the decision
is "asinine."
Her testimony brought up the points of current
security in the courthouse. According to those who testified, following
the 1998 attempted bombing there was more security added to the courthouse.
Security, such as panic buttons, portable metal detectors and hand-held
detectors, that makes them all feel as though the courthouse sufficiently
provides safety.
"I don't think it's perfect, or even will be perfect,"
said Lafayette mayor Dave Heath. He referred to the courthouse as "the
heart of our community," and doesn't want access to it limited to one
entrance.
Mayor Heath agreed with prosecutors, saying that
weapons should be prohibited in the courthouse, but added, "You can
bring in millions of dollars on security, but there is no guarantee."
He said that the people who work in the courthouse and are part of the
court and public systems should be aware of the risk involved.
Sheriff David Murtaugh, Lafayette Police Department,
said that limiting the entrance to the courthouse poses a problem both
for the public and the police officers. He said that the only place
for those waiting to come into the courthouse is a small entryway, the
rest would have to wait outside.
As for escorting prisoners, he said it would take
longer for the police officers to bring them into the building because
the prisoners would have to be moved a greater distance outside the
courthouse. He does not believe the mandate is the answer to the security
needs of the courthouse.
Three county commissioners came to a consensus,
saying that it is unnecessary to close any of the doors of the courthouse
and that other options should be considered.
Tippecanoe county judges Donald Johnson and Michael
Morrissey also testified against the mandate.
Johnson said, "I feel that I and the public are
safe in my courtroom, mostly because I have an armed bailiff," he said.
He added that he has been threatened, but claims "it's part of the job."
Morissey also feels that he and the public are
safe in his courtroom. "I have no reason to believe that anyone in the
courtroom, including me, the staff and the defendants, are really in
any danger," he said. Morissey added that his feeling of safety might
be in part because of the armed bailiff.
Morissey concluded that he doesn't support Judge
Malichar's mandate, but doesn’t oppose it either.
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