Many apologies for the lack of posting over the past couple of days. The Serrano trial and Cypess Gardens bankruptcy saga have had us on the road.

Speaking of the Serrano trial, it has coincided with a major - and controversial - ramping up of courthouse security. All entry traffic has been funneled to the main entrance on the north side of the building. All non employees must go through two and sometimes three layers of screening.

The first layer consists of four “puffer” machines, which buffet a person with jets of air meant to scatter any explosive residue into the air so that the machines’ sensors can detect it, thereby thwarting would-be bombers, in theory. The machines cost $100,000 per unit and were paid for by the Polk County taxpayers through the County Commission.

Once through that layer, non-employees must pass through metal detectors and x-ray machines. If the metal detector goes off, which it does often, a security guard wands the person in question.

Here’s an indicator of how sensitive the metal detectors are: Every time I’ve gone through, after placing my wallet, keys, etc. in a basket, my cheap belt has set off the alarm. The wanders stay very busy.

At peak traffic times, lines to enter the courthouse have stretched outside the front doors. It can take 10-15 minutes to get through security.

There’s more below.

Once inside the courthouse, one quickly notices a large wooden gazebo-like structure in the middle of the main lobby. It stands about 20-30 feet from the main entry and security array. This is dubbed “the security kiosk.” It’s essentially a watchtower, with a deputy or bailiff stationed there much of the day watching over the comings and goings within the lobby area.

To leave the courthouse, a patron or employee must walk the length of one of two long hallways - both about 75 yards long - leading to exits on the east and west side of the building. A single security guard from a private contractor mans each exit, in charge of stopping anyone from entering as someone exits.

These changes have led to grumbling among patrons and formal opposition among many courthouse employees, most of whom were originally to be treated just like patrons for security purposes. Chief Judge Ronald Herring has put that decision on hold. And for now, employees need only flash a badge at the front door security stop.

That will almost certainly change. Judges are meeting today to consider a proposal from the State Attorney’s Office, Clerk of Courts Office and other major courthouse-based agencies. It would require employees to enter from one of the side exits and run their badges through a badge scanner to ensure an employee is in good standing.

These security decisions are the culmination of months of study, according to a Sheriff’s Office brochure describing the changes to employees. In justifying the measures, that brochure makes reference to the “Fulton County Courthouse disaster,” in which an Atlanta-area inmate disarmed a deputy in the courthouse and killed several people with a gun.

“The new security order would have no impact if a factual scenario similar to the one in Fulton County occurred here,” wrote Michael Cusick, as assistant state attorney, in a letter to County Commission Chairman Jack Myers.

Judge Herring has the ultimate authority to regulate security within the courtroom, according to County Attorney Joe Jarret.

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