Courthouse institutes heightened
security
By Heather Mangold
City
Editor
Security became an issue in Tippecanoe County on
Tuesday after attacks were made on several U.S. cities.
Dave Murtaugh, Tippecanoe County Sheriff, said
increased security was necessary at the Tippecanoe County courthouse.
"We've only closed the second floor doors —
everyone has to come in through the ground floor," said Murtaugh.
In addition to closing second floor entrances,
eight security bailiffs were implemented at each main entrance of the
main floor in the courthouse.
Tuesday was not the first time security issues
were raised in Tippecanoe County.
On Aug. 30, Judge Ronald Melichar of the Tippecanoe
County Circuit Court issued a mandate order to increase security at
the Tippecanoe County courthouse. A trial was held and special judge
Raymond Kickbush ruled in favor of the mandate. County commissioners
and other county officials opposed the mandate and the case is now moving
on to the Indiana Supreme Court.
Speculations from local politicians suggest that
the mandate may have acquired new validity after attacks were made across
the nation.
"I think Judge Melichar will feel like he's been
vindicated if he had any doubters," said Rep. Sheila Klinker, D-27th.
"I think he'll say 'see?'"
Klinker said any security a place may have is not
going to be tight enough on a day when hijackers attack the U.S.
Sen. Ron Alting, R-22nd, said that the comparison
between Tippecanoe County's courthouse security to the tragic events
across the nation was insignificant.
"It's a totally separate issue," said Alting.
Rep. Sue Scholer, R-26th, agreed.
"This obviously is an incident (attacks on U.S.
cities) that is driven by other issues," said Scholer.
Scholer said the only similarity between national
security and security in the courthouse is that both had unexplained
motives. In 1998, a man attempted to bomb the Tippecanoe County courthouse
and local officials could not be sure why.
"You just can't prevent some of these things from
happening," said Scholer. "There are individuals that defy explanations
in what they are capable of doing."
Steve Wettschurack, executive director for emergency
management in Tippecanoe County, said the courthouse was not the only
building in need of additional security.
Wettschurack said the Tippecanoe County Federal
Building was closed on Tuesday along with all other federal buildings
across the United States.
"We've been put under a state of alert from the
state emergency management," said Wettschurack. "They notified us shortly
after the first activity in New York City."
Wettschurack said his organization was working
to provide any necessary equipment that the airport and University may
have needed to remain secure.
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