PORT ANGELES — Rather than forming an ad hoc committee to examine courthouse security, Clallam County commissioners have directed an existing security panel to appoint its own subcommittee to study the issue.
The security committee — which consists of the county sheriff, human resources director and facilities manager — will consider the costs of enhanced courthouse security and make its own recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners.
Commissioners decided Monday to have a security committee subcommittee look at the issue.
Courthouse safety has been a hot topic in Clallam and other counties since an attack on a Grays Harbor County sheriff’s deputy and judge in March.
Steven Kravetz, 34, allegedly shot Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Deputy Polly Davin with her own gun, stabbed her twice, then wrestled with Judge Dave Edwards in the halls of the Montesano courthouse March 9.
Davin and Edwards were not seriously hurt.
Letter from judges
In an April 2 letter, Clallam County Superior Court Judges Ken Williams, George L. Wood and S. Brooke Taylor asked the commissioners to form an ad hoc security committee to look for ways to improve the security blanket at the dual-entry courthouse at 223 E. Fourth St. in Port Angeles.
Taylor said courthouse security was a “huge item of discussion” at a judge’s conference last month.
Last Tuesday, commissioners discussed a draft resolution to appoint members of an ad hoc courthouse security panel.
County Administrator Jim Jones said the intent of the resolution already was covered under existing Clallam County Policy 405: “Facility security, access and use.”
“I would suggest that we give [the security committee] the draft resolution information that came last week — and all the different parties we were suggesting should be a part of it — and then through their own ad hoc committee come back to their full committee for a recommendation to bring to us,” Jones said.
Court representative
Taylor asked that a representative from Superior Court be included on the subcommittee.
“We would probably start by going to similar-sized counties around the state,” Taylor said, “just to find out what the Lewis counties, the Chelan counties, the Skagit counties and so on are doing in terms of courthouse security.”
“Not court security. Courthouse security,” Taylor added.
“That’s a much broader issue than just what goes on in our courts.”
Commissioner Mike Chapman has maintained that the courthouse is well-armed and existing security is adequate.
The proposed ad hoc committee included representatives from Superior and District courts; the Sheriff’s Office; employee bargaining units; the county bar association; the commissioners’ office; human resources; parks, fair and facilities; juvenile and family services; and the general public.
One of the primary duties of the subcommittee would be to develop costs for enhanced security, which usually means hiring trained personnel, Taylor said.
Clallam County has one armed courtroom-courthouse security deputy.
“At least we’d know what we’re talking about instead of just saying we can’t afford that,” Taylor said.
“We’d at least know what it is we can’t afford.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
