YOUNGSTOWN Court buildingtightens security

Mahoning County Courthouse employees will be issued identification cards.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Security measures at the Mahoning County Courthouse are being tightened in the wake of last month's terrorist attacks on the United States.
"Everything is heightened right now, obviously, because of the events of Sept. 11," said county Administrator Gary Kubic. "We are increasing our ability to be secure."
Though he declined to give specific details about the plans for fear of breaching security measures, Kubic said officials have identified areas where security has been lax and are making improvements.
Visitors: Most visitors are required to enter and exit the building through the front doors on Market Street. A new walk-through metal detector was recently installed there to ensure that visitors don't carry in weapons or other contraband.
Some courthouse employees are given cards that allow them access to the building through a back door by swiping the card through a scanner. Workers who have those cards are not supposed to allow others to enter the building with them.
But some employees have complained of seeing cardholders use their card to open the door, then let other workers into the building through the back door.
Kubic said deputies should be able to monitor that traffic because the security office is near the back door. If deputies see unauthorized personnel entering through that door, they should fill out an incident report and notify their supervisor, he said.
Identification: All courthouse employees will soon be issued identification cards so deputies will know who works there and who is visiting. That should happen in about a month, Kubic said.
Commissioners mulled the ID card idea after a fire in the courthouse attic in 1996, but never followed through. Kubic said it was because they couldn't get all elected officials to go along with the idea.
Employees will also be trained in security measures and taught to be alert to anything that seems out of the ordinary.
"We need to be more aware and cognizant of our daily surroundings," Kubic said. "If people see something out of the ordinary, they need to report it immediately."
Commissioners and Sheriff Randall Wellington, who is in charge of courthouse security, will try to beef up security without impinging on people's ability to move freely about the building, Kubic said.
"This is still a public building that conducts public business," he said. "We have to do what is reasonable to create a safe environment for our visitors and employees."
bjackson@vindy.com