Trumbull courthouse security being examined

WARREN — In several months, national television networks are expected to be present when Brian Nichols goes on trial in Georgia for the March 2005 killing of a judge, court reporter and a deputy in the Fulton County Courthouse.

Officials in Trumbull County have started an examination of the security in their county courthouse aimed at preventing something like that from happening there.

The Georgia officials say Nichols was in a holding cell awaiting trial on a rape charge when a female deputy removed his handcuffs so he could change into civilian clothes. Nichols attacked the deputy and took her sidearm. He then crossed a skybridge into the courthouse and — after overpowering another deputy — shot the judge and court reporter to death. He shot and killed a third deputy who then pursued him.

In Trumbull County, the five judges in the courthouse ordered the number of deputies on duty increased from three to five after a scare of their own in November. That was when three members of a Warren family attacked a murder suspect in the courtroom of Judge John M. Stuard. That episode resulted in bruises, not fatalities.

But officials felt a more thorough study was necessary, so a month ago, Commissioner Paul Heltzel, common pleas magistrate Pat McCarthy and investigator Gary Hetzel of the prosecutor’s office toured the Mahoning and Stark county courthouses.

Hetzel then learned that the Ohio Supreme Court offers a free service, in which it sends security experts to examine county courthouses and offer suggestions for improvements.

On Thursday, Commissioner Heltzel gave the experts a tour.

They talked with each of the judges, quizzed maintenance personnel and examined the building throughout, Heltzel said.

They are expected to report their findings within a couple months.

Though Heltzel said the work of the security experts is done in private, it was apparent that their work is focused on entry and exit points in the building and the ability of the video cameras to record activities completely.

Heltzel said he believes the current staffing of deputies is providing better protection than at the time of the November assault.

“It seems to be working,” Heltzel said, explaining that deputies are stationed on each floor and two more at the main entrance.

The visits to Mahoning and Stark counties identified some differences in their operations, such as a secured underground garage in Stark County that enables prisoners to be transported from the jail to the courthouse, and a different type of staffing system in Mahoning County that puts a lot more deputies in the building.

But so far, Heltzel said he had not identified anything from the visits that might cause him to suggest changes.