Published: July 27, 2008 10:50 am      

Courthouse increases security measures

Aim to meet homeland security guidelines

DUNCAN — As of Friday, no member of the public has access to two of the four entrances into the Stephens County Courthouse.

Due to security upgrades to bring the courthouse more in line with Department of Homeland Security guidelines, the north and south entrances now are electronically locked to all who do not have a special key fob.

The main and back doors, which are on the east and west sides respectively, will remain unlocked during the day, but will both electronically lock at 4:30 p.m. sharp Monday through Friday.

Anyone on the inside of the building will be able to exit by pushing a button on the side of the door, but without the key fob, will not be able to re-enter.

The outer doors were not the only doors to receive the controlled access upgrade. All the doors within the courthouse received it, as well.

Stephens County Sheriff Jimmie Bruner said that anyone who works in the courthouse will receive a key fob that will grant him or her access to the outside doors and to their own departments.

“It is unfortunate that we live in a day and time when these security measures are needed,” Bruner said. “We’ve been real fortunate here, but we have to tighten security around here. After events such as Sept. 11 and the Oklahoma City bombing, we must take it seriously.”

In the event of an emergency, the Sheriff’s Department will start to lock down doors to protect people, Bruner said.

“This is a big step forward for us,” she said. “It will make us more secure.”

Bruner said that the idea for these upgrades originated when members of the Department of Homeland Security inspected the courthouse.

“They gave a review of what they thought could be implemented to bring the courthouse up to where it needs to be,” she said.

The project was opened to bids and then awarded by the Stephens County commissioners in their Jan. 22 meeting to the low bid, Hi-Tech Security Solutions, for $134,474.

Funds to pay for this project came from a Homeland Security grant, the courthouse security fund and the county general fund.

The company started installing the system about a month ago and expects it to be complete in less than a week, said Steve McBride, who is installing the system.

Besides an electronic lock on each door, multiple cameras were installed on the inside and outside of the courthouse and a new metal detector purchased, Bruner said.

She said that the cameras record to a large hard drive, which allows the Sheriff’s Department to play back what happened at a specific time and location at the courthouse.

“We can go back and search for what happened,” she said.

The department also has an ability, to some extent, to watch what happens at the probation and parole office.

If anything out of the ordinary happens at or on the way to the probation and parole office, the Sheriff’s Department will possibly have a video record of what transpired, she said.

“We can zoom in and see the probation and parole office from here,” Bruner said. “We’re proud to protect our people.”

The metal detector that was purchased is similar to what one sees at an airport and will be used for any high-profile court cases or whenever a judge feels it necessary, she said.

“Not only does it see if you have any metal on you, but it will pinpoint the location on your body to us,” Bruner said.