Tighter security sought at Mahoning courthouse

YOUNGSTOWN — Courthouse security upgrades are necessary in these troubled times, Mahoning County common pleas judges say.

“There have been incidents where people have been injured or killed as a result of violence or incidents both inside and outside courthouses,” said Judge John M. Durkin, presiding judge of the common pleas court.

“We have an obligation to ensure the safety of, not only the public who comes into this building, but also an obligation to ensure the safety and protection of the people who work here,” Judge Durkin said, noting that details of security arrangements will be kept confidential.

“We want to become proactive and take steps now, rather than become reactive and take steps after something has happened,” he added.

Locally, two incidents are most notable, both in the Trumbull County Courthouse.

In November 2006, Trumbull County common pleas judges beefed up courthouse security after three members of a Warren family assaulted a handcuffed defendant they blamed for the homicide deaths of four of their relatives in Columbus while that defendant was in court on charges pertaining to a local homicide.

In the second incident, which occurred at the Trumbull County Courthouse in February 2007, a Youngstown man charged toward a defendant moments after the defendant was acquitted of raping the Youngstown man’s daughter, and sheriff’s deputies Tasered the aggressor and brought him under control before he could injure the defendant.

All eight Mahoning County common pleas judges made their first move to upgrade security at their county courthouse when they ordered that all 182 electronic swipe cards used by county employees to enter side and rear courthouse doors be canceled effective today.