Courthouse security a success so far

A little more than six months after security guards started screening people going into the Dodge County Courthouse, things are going smoothly, an official said.

“We get quite a few people who come through and thank us for being there,” said Jerry Walker Jr., manager of JDS Security. “They’re happy we’re here.”

Since courthouse security began on June 16, there have been

49,750 people pass through the screening.

Guards from JDS Security, most of whom are off-duty police officers or dispatchers, staff the metal detector at the courthouse 2 1/2 days per week. There is a walk-through metal detector and an X-ray machine for packages, briefcases, purses and coats to be passed through to detect for weapons.

The procedure took a bit of time for some people to get used to, but most courthouse visitors now go through with no issues. He said most people are used to it.

“You don’t hear any complaints anymore,” Walker said. “Your people who come regularly are walking in the door with stuff in their hands ready to set in the tray.”

The questions have changed from wondering why there is security at the courthouse entrance.

“Now people ask why we’re not here every day,” Walker said. “When people ask why we’re not here every day, we tell them it’s not our fault. They need to talk to the board members.”

The Dodge County Board of Supervisors has hired the security firm to be at the courthouse half of the time.

“We haven’t really confiscated anything,” Walker said. “We’ve turned people away for weapons. Everything from knives to stun guns to mace, even screwdrivers.”

Since June, there have been 3,675 total weapons turned away at the doors to the courthouse. So far, he said there haven’t been any guns found, but there have been people with concealed carry permits who forgot they had a clip or ammunition in their pockets and had to return to their cars.

Even with a concealed carry permit, guns are not allowed in the courthouse other than by law enforcement officers.

So far, there have been 17,318 packages, parcels or purses passed through the X-ray machine and 1,436 items that have been physically searched.

“We have found weapons in purses and things,” Walker said. “You have two choices, return it to your vehicle or place it in the box at your own risk.”

There is a large metal box right outside of the security checkpoint where knives and other items considered to be weapons can be placed until the owner leaves the courthouse.

“There have been a couple of people with narcotics on them,” Walker said, adding the drugs were marijuana. “We call law enforcement and they are cited.”

There have also been 5,303 men and 1,813 women searched with a hand scanner because they couldn’t make it through the metal detector without setting it off.

“It’s amazing how many shoes have a metal shank,” Walker said.

The guards try their best not to inconvenience people entering the courthouse, he said.

“There is never a solid line,” Walker said. “You might get a group of 10 or 20, but in a couple of minutes they’re through.”