CLAREMORE — Rogers County Commissioners informally approved the formation of a Courthouse Security Committee during it’s Monday meeting.

Making an appeal to commissioners for the need for additional security in the Rogers County courthouse was Judge Dynda Post, with Judges Erin O’Quinn and Sheila Condren also in attendance.

“Over the years, we’ve had different things occur at the courthouse with regards to security,” said Judge Post. “This (courthouse security) is an issue all across the country and it’s certainly an issue in this state and in this county. There were times when the (Oklahoma) supreme court budgeted to help us with this, but those times are no longer, and now, courthouse security is the sheriff’s issue,   his responsibility.

“For quite some time, we had two courthouse security deputies and even though they did a great job, it was still a lot of work for only two people, regularly running up and down the stairs and seeing to all the security needs of the courthouse,” she said. “Along the way, we lost one deputy and we’ve now only got one, Tom Howse, who handles all of the security in the courthouse.

“Gentlemen, I submit to you that this is woefully inadequate,” Post said. “The courthouse is one of the most emotionally charged places a person could go, short of perhaps the emergency room in a hospital. Tom (Howse) is doing a tremendous job, but there’s only one of him. We’re the only courthouse of our size in the state of Oklahoma that has such inadequate security in every way,  in staffing, in equipment and in lack of policies.”

Post reminded commissioners that the courthouse is an “open courthouse,” wherein there are no security screenings, whether deputies manning the entry points, metal detectors or metal-detecting batons, when persons enter the building.

“I’ve talked to the supreme court administrator and there’s no statutory way for them to pour any money into the county for security, and I don’t think they should,” she said. “We’re a county that’s supposed to be able to take care of ourselves. It’s nobody’s job but ours to keep people safe when they come into this courthouse and my concerns (regarding safety) aren’t just about myself and the other judges. I’m here about the employees that work here, the public and the atmosphere here. We should not be having people screaming profanities and knock-down drag-outs in the hallway. There should be an atmosphere of order and respectfulness. Anyone who thinks there’s an atmosphere of respectfulness here needs to walk through the hallways on protective order day, or divorce day or drug court day. It’s just terrible.”

Also present was Rogers County Sheriff Scott Walton, who understood and agreed with Post’s concerns, but said the bottom line was an issue of funding.

“I’m certainly open to any suggestions, but for us, it always goes back to funding,” Walton said. “Right now, we’ve got four patrols (deputies) in the county. That’s for the entirety of Rogers County and based on the population, that’s about one deputy for every 22,000 residents. The things that weigh heaviest on my mind are this building (the courthouse) and the schools which aren’t in a municipality with their own police force, such as Foyil, Justus, and Sequoyah. They rely on us, and there are times when we’re needed there and we’re (patrolling deputies) miles away. I’ve got a lot of good people I’d like to hire, but I just need the money.”

Commissioner Mike Helm concurred with Walton about funding being the biggest obstacle to additional deputies in the courthouse.

“Since this has been brought before this board in this manner, I would countersubmit that we (the county) do not charge judges for the use of their courtrooms, yet we’re charged with providing security for them,” Helm said. “It makes no sense to me that we are expected to be responsible for so many aspects of the justice system, from taking care of juveniles to transportation (of prisoners) to housing. It’s a bold statement to say it’s up to the county to do something (about courthouse security) and we can go through the supreme court (for funding). It’s all connected to the justice system.

“This matter is all on our shoulders. It’s all on the board of county commissioners, not the cities and by bringing it  before us in this manner, you’ve basically put us in a situation to say, what should we do, fund the jail or courthouse security, and I’m going to choose to take care of what you’ve already dispensed as far as justice, and take care of the jail first,” Helm said. “We’re already expected to come up with additional funding and now you’re telling me you need additional security for the courthouse? Where am I going to get this money? I can’t get it out of the courthouse fund, so where should I get it?”

Helm noted the commissioners future plans to hire a CPA to find additional monies in the budget, but at present, none are available in the county’s budget.

“I’m simply asking you to make this a priority, which I feel you’re not,” Post said, “and making this a priority doesn’t cost you a dime.”

After continued discussions, Commissioner Dan DeLozier said he agreed with Judge Post in that courthouse security should be a priority.

“We know we need deputies, we know we need security, but we need to look at all the departments (in the county) to see where monies can be saved to put towards this problem,” DeLozier said.

Walton and Post were  informally advised by Helm to form a Courthouse Security Committee to include county judges, members of the Rogers County Commissioners, and others to examine security needs at the courthouse.

Walton said he would return at next week’s meeting  to advise them on the members and progress of the committee.