PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County Administrator Philip Morley spend an hour last week with Security Service Northwest President Joe D’Amico, touring the county courthouse.
They want to upgrade security measures to prevent another break-in and vandalism such as the one that caused a scare in the Superior Court clerk’s office the weekend before.
Morley, who took D’Amico up on his offer to provide free security consulting, told the county commissioners Monday afternoon that he hoped to take every step possible to enhance courthouse security both during and after business hours.
“There is no final outcome yet,” Morley told the commissioners, and no added security measures have taken place since the break-in, fire and theft Oct. 2.
It was overnight that Friday that a burglar entered the courthouse by breaking a window to Morley’s ground floor office.
The break-in occurred between 1:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. It was reported by a janitor arriving for work at about 5:30 a.m., Morley said.
No security cameras
There are no security cameras at the courthouse, a restored 1891 Victorian brick, block and mortar building with a clock tower.
The glass security window on the door to the court clerk’s office also was broken and a small fire was set and quickly extinguished itself.
It scorched a deputy clerk’s cubicle wall.
Morley said the courtroom video camera, which is not for security purposes, was found on the floor.
Saying she would secure her burglarized offices following the incident, elected County Clerk Ruth Gordon on Sept. 28 asked the county commissioners to become more involved in security measures for the courthouse.
Gordon said she believed that a criminal that went through the court system was responsible.
County Commissioner Phil Johnson, D-Port Townsend, volunteered to sit on the courthouse safety committee.
Court security
She also recommended that the county commissioners consider funding a computer system that would allow residents to buy court documents online, which would add to court record security.
County Commissioner David Sullivan said during a county administrator briefing session Monday afternoon that he met with court clerk’s office staffers about the incident.
Sullivan said from the talks he learned, the court clerk staffers “are ready to make themselves safe.”
Morley said he spoke with Sheriff Tony Hernandez, who is coordinating with Port Townsend Police Chief Conner Daily and JeffCom dispatchers to clarify the response system.
Sullivan said it was important that it be known who is in charge in the event of a security breech.
Morley said steps could be taken in the short term, and money could be set aside for long-term security precautions.
D’Amico, who attended the Monday afternoon commissioners’ meeting, said he recommended that the county immediately provide security patrols for the courthouse.
He also recommended that security systems, such as video cameras, be installed and monitored to avoid another break-in.
Such a system could be installed without degrading the century-old courthouse’s historic presence.
Security Services provides patrol services for Jefferson Healthcare hospital in Port Townsend, Jefferson County Library in Port Hadlock and Washington State University Extension offices in Port Hadlock.
_________
Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
