Franklin County rethinks courthouse security cuts

By Drew Foster, Herald staff writer

PASCO — The single-entrance screening area outside the Franklin County courthouse is the last security measure that should be abandoned as the county trims its budget, a Superior Court judge believes.

"It would be crazy to go backward," Judge Craig Matheson said during a county budget workshop.

And Friday, Commission Chairman Rick Miller said the county will reconsider plans to cut the security budget.

Commissioners had opened a meeting earlier in the week by talking about eliminating the screening process, which requires courthouse visitors to pass through a metal detector and have their bags, jackets and other items X-rayed.

Franklin County is facing a forecast $1.5 million shortfall and planning to make cuts across the 2010 budget proposal. Courthouse security is facing a possible 54 percent cut.

During the workshop session, Miller asked Capt. Rick Rochleau, the county security administrator, what he thought of eliminating single-entry screening.

"I'm not going to sit here and tell you I think it's a good idea to close screening," Rochleau responded. "I think it's something that is important."

After hearing from Rochleau and two Superior Court judges, Commissioner Brad Peck said he'd like to re-examine the security cuts.

"I think we may have cut a little deeper than we intended," he said.

Security is provided by Olympic Security of Seattle and J&J Security of Richland. Olympic performs entry screening and provides added courtroom security, while J&J primarily helps bailiffs secure courtrooms, the courthouse and other public safety buildings.

The security budget was $230,938 in 2009, and the same amount was sought for 2010. Instead, it was cut to $106,436.

"We are going to reconsider the 54 percent cut," Miller said Friday.

Rochleau has told the commissioners he could operate the single-entry screening area for about $72,000 on top of the $106,436 that's budgeted. "It'd be bare bones," he said.

On Friday, he was optimistic that some sort of screening would remain in 2010.

"I felt the commissioners actually listened to us, ... and that's all we can ask for," he said.

Matheson said Friday and during the budget workshop Wednesday that a 1996 statewide courthouse security study recommended screening for weapons, which he said is best achieved by restricting access to one entry point.

Franklin County adopted that practice several years ago when the security area was built outside the courthouse and a fence erected around the property.

The 1996 study came on the heels of a fatal courthouse shooting in Seattle.

Matheson recently sentenced a teenage gang member to 15 years in prison for shooting and killing a Pasco man. The courtroom was packed with about 50 people and more than a dozen law enforcement officers and security guards.

Matheson emphasized that courtroom security is primarily to ensure the safety of citizens, not judges, but said the knowledge that everyone was screened by a metal detector was comforting.

"People need to be able to come into this environment and not be afraid to come here," he said.

-- Drew Foster: 585-7207; dfoster@tricityherald.com

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Monday, Oct. 19, 2009

Franklin County rethinks courthouse security cuts

By Drew Foster, Herald staff writer