Muni judge criticizes city for security issues

July 22, 2010 at 12:03a.m.

and ashley luthern

youngstown

A Youngstown Municipal Court judge criticized the city administration and city council for problems with court security that extends beyond what she calls “the brawl in city hall.”

Elizabeth A. Kobly, the court’s administrative and presiding judge, sent a letter Wednesday to the mayor and council. In it, Judge Kobly wrote there were three other “security breaches during the last seven days.”

She said the problems would have been avoided if the city had a “properly trained, properly staffed security force.”

The July 14 brawl occurred in the court’s hallway after the arraignment of a murder suspect.

Less than a minute after the fight between family members of the suspect and the murder victim, about six Youngstown police officers responded to the brawl and broke it up.

Properly trained security officers “would know to separate the victim’s family from the defendant’s on any criminal case, especially a high-profile one,” the judge wrote.

She also wrote that “courthouse security has never been a priority of” Mayor Jay Williams. “There is always something else that is more important” to the mayor.

In response, Williams said, “I won’t delve into the inaccuracies of the comments as it relates to me. I won’t stoop that low. Our desires to come to a reasonable solution [on court facility improvements] have been rebuffed by the judges.”

Vector Security guards, typically two at a time and hired by the administration, patrol three courtrooms, a probation department, court offices and the clerk of court’s office. Vector’s regional manager could not be reached Wednesday by The Vindicator for comment.

The other security breaches mentioned by Kobly include security guards allowing a woman with two children into the probation department on July 14, which is against court policy.

That same night, the security guard and police officer on duty left their posts without an explanation. On Monday, just before night court began, the police elevator was shut down, and the guard at the police entrance sent people up to court in a dark stairwell, Judge Kobly wrote.

In her letter, Judge Kobly criticized Vector as being “woefully inadequate” in handling security.

When asked about Vector, Williams said, “There’s always room for improvement. I don’t know if [the judges will] ever be satisfied. Security is a concern in general. Security is always a priority, and each of the incidents are of concern.”

The judges wanted $500,000 from the city’s general-fund budget earlier this year to hire their own security guards. Because of the city’s struggling finances, the judges withdrew their requests.

“When the court withdrew its demand for funding to hire trained security personnel, we did so while holding our collective breath,” Judge Kobly wrote. “It was just a matter of time.”

Council President Charles Sammarone said, “The judges have many concerns. It might be a good idea to allow the judges to hire their own security.”