Hancock County tightens security at courthouse
HANCOCK COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) — The Hancock County Courthouse is now tightening security by screening every person who walks into the courthouse. Starting Wednesday, deputies will use an X-ray machine and metal detectors to make sure no one enters the courthouse with a weapon. Crews installed and tested the equipment Tuesday.
Major Brad Burkhart, with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, as led the effort to increase security at the courthouse for the past four years. Burkhart shut down three of the four courthouse doors, so deputies can see everyone coming inside. At the beginning of the year, the county added more deputies to guard the building.
What Burkhart really wanted was an X-ray machine and metal detector to screen everyone who came inside the courthouse.
“It’s been a long time coming…we’re finally here. It’s kind of like baby steps. Now we’re at the finish line,” said Burkhart.
In the past, deputies brought in metal detectors for big trials. During one murder trial in January, they found pepper spray and almost 30 knives. The issue was finding money for a permanent x-ray machine and metal detector. Burkhart said the equipment alone costs $20,000. People who work in the courthouse told 24-Hour News 8 the new security is worth the money.
“We have on probably a weekly basis, somebody coming into the courthouse with some sort of weapon,” said Burkhart.
Deputies said they’ve found guns and knives on people, after taking them from the courthouse to jail. Deputy Jay Marks said weapons have made it in the courtrooms. Until now, deputies said there’s been no way to know those weapons are there.
“We don’t check at all unless we see something out of the ordinary, something that looks suspicious. Other than that people come and go as they please,” said Marx.
Courthouse staff said they felt relieved to see the new equipment.
“We’ve been very fortunate, because we’re probably one of the few in the state that don’t have the metal detectors,” said Wayne Addison, the Chief Probation Officer.
Addison works in the courthouse every day.
“A lot of times when people come to see their probation officer, they’re not necessarily the happiest people in the world,” said Addison.
Addison says he feels lucky it didn’t take someone getting hurt, to make the county react and add security screening.
“I know the other people in my office are going to feel so much safer,” said Addison.
24-Hour News 8 also checked with Marion, Boone, Shelby, Johnson, Hamilton, Morgan and Hendricks County courthouses. Boone County is the only courthouse left that doesn’t have a metal detector or X-ray machine. Boone County Sheriff Mike Nielsen said there are plans to increase security, possibly with X-ray machines and metal detectors, as long as county officials approve the money to make it happen.
The City-County Building in Indianapolis added its X-Ray machines and metal detectors in 2001. The equipment was part of a pilot program, and crews took it out at the end of August. When the September 11th terrorist attacks happened less than two weeks later, crews moved the security equipment back in the building.