Post by WaTcHeR on Aug 16, 2006 17:34:39 GMT -5
08.16.2006 - BARTOW -- Courthouse employees and visitors might want to start arriving a little earlier this week to the Polk County Courthouse in Bartow.
To heighten security, new scanning equipment has been installed and is expected to be running by Monday.
In the past, lawyers and court employees have been issued badges so that they wouldn't have to go through metal detectors or have their belongings searched to get inside the courthouse.
But a new procedure will limit those who are exempt to judges, magistrates, hearing officers, Court Administrator Nick Sudzina, State Attorney Jerry Hill, public defender J. Marion Moorman and Polk County Clerk of Court Richard Weiss.
Within a single week, about 48,000 employees and visitors are estimated to travel in and out of the Bartow courthouse, according to a security report.
Maj. Steve Lester of the Polk County Sheriff's Office said he knows courthouse employees have some concerns about the change, but the goal is to get everyone into the courthouse as quickly and safely as possible.
"It's a work in progress," he said. "We'll continually watch it."
To help ease the transition, Lester said a decision was made to begin getting people comfortable with the new security procedure.
Four new explosive-detection machines, X-ray machines and metal detectors will be operating at the north entrance.
On the left, two stations will be designated for courthouse employees, and the two on the right will be for the general public.
Courthouse employees must bring their badges so they can be directed to the proper line.
The courthouse has already used X-ray machines and metal detectors as security features, but the explosive-detection machines are something new.
The large machines search for traces of potential explosive materials.
Courthouse employees and visitors will be asked to stand inside a small square on the floor while air is gently blown at them. People should not step out of the machine until told to do so because this will slow things down for everyone.
The entire process takes about
8 seconds for each person.
In addition to the north entrance, the west doorway will remain another entrance for the general public and courthouse employees until Aug. 23.
Eventually, the west and east doorways will be converted into exits only.
The juvenile division will continue to have its own scanning equipment at its entrance near the courthouse's western side.
www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060813/NEWS/608130378/1004
To heighten security, new scanning equipment has been installed and is expected to be running by Monday.
In the past, lawyers and court employees have been issued badges so that they wouldn't have to go through metal detectors or have their belongings searched to get inside the courthouse.
But a new procedure will limit those who are exempt to judges, magistrates, hearing officers, Court Administrator Nick Sudzina, State Attorney Jerry Hill, public defender J. Marion Moorman and Polk County Clerk of Court Richard Weiss.
Within a single week, about 48,000 employees and visitors are estimated to travel in and out of the Bartow courthouse, according to a security report.
Maj. Steve Lester of the Polk County Sheriff's Office said he knows courthouse employees have some concerns about the change, but the goal is to get everyone into the courthouse as quickly and safely as possible.
"It's a work in progress," he said. "We'll continually watch it."
To help ease the transition, Lester said a decision was made to begin getting people comfortable with the new security procedure.
Four new explosive-detection machines, X-ray machines and metal detectors will be operating at the north entrance.
On the left, two stations will be designated for courthouse employees, and the two on the right will be for the general public.
Courthouse employees must bring their badges so they can be directed to the proper line.
The courthouse has already used X-ray machines and metal detectors as security features, but the explosive-detection machines are something new.
The large machines search for traces of potential explosive materials.
Courthouse employees and visitors will be asked to stand inside a small square on the floor while air is gently blown at them. People should not step out of the machine until told to do so because this will slow things down for everyone.
The entire process takes about
8 seconds for each person.
In addition to the north entrance, the west doorway will remain another entrance for the general public and courthouse employees until Aug. 23.
Eventually, the west and east doorways will be converted into exits only.
The juvenile division will continue to have its own scanning equipment at its entrance near the courthouse's western side.
www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060813/NEWS/608130378/1004