Court security extended

Wahkiakum County officials are working on a plan to continue funding security officers for the county district and superior courts.

District Court Judge Bill Faubion and Superior Court Judge Michael Sullivan have hired two retired police officers as security officers under a state grant which expires at the end of June. The grant has been discontinued in the state government budget cuts, and this week, the judges asked that the commissioners authorize them to spend $6,000 from their Trial Court Improvement Fund to fund court security for the rest of 2010.

The fund gets revenue from court fees, Faubion said, and it has a balance of $18,659.

After an hour of discussion, commissioners voted 2-1 to allow a $3,000 expenditure, and they asked Faubion to return with a long range plan for court security.

Commissioners Lisa Marsyla and Blair Brady voted for the motion; Commissioner Dan Cothren voted against it.

The hiring of courtroom security officers has been a contentious issue for the judge and commission. When the prospect first appeared, commissioners wanted the judges to contract with a private security firm to avoid possible liability and the expenses of having employees. The judges, citing autonomy under state law, hired officers instead of contracting so they had better control of operations.

The judges expected the security funding to continue, but it was cut following the recent legislative session.

Brady reminded Faubion that the commissioners had said the positions should be cut if funding disappeared, for the board wouldn't provide revenue from the county Current Expense Fund.

The Trial Court Improvement Fund is separate from the Current Expense Fund, Faubion said, and its uses are limited but allow the security officers.

The officers have proven valuable, Faubion said. They've diffused heated situations and deterred people from bringing weapons into court.

The commission should consider further security needs, said security officer Hans York. He reported that at a recent training he learned about threats and attacks that have occurred elsewhere that could easily occur in the Wahkiakum courthouse.

Marsyla said the commission should have a master security plan before funding more security.

"Every time we talk about court security, it's a moving target," Marsyla commented. "On Day 1, you were talking about one person. Now you have two officers.

"We need a time line and to know where we are going," she said.

"I don't know if I have the expertise to furnish all the answers," Faubion said. "Threats and harassment will go on. The risk is real to the public."

"I would like to see a plan, a road map, to see where all this is heading," Marsyla said.

Cothren and Brady said they agreed with Marsyla.

"Bill, one other thing," Cothren added, "we said we wouldn't go with it, and we got it. It seems like something always comes around and bites us again."

Marsyla moved to authorize the expenditure and require the plan; Cothren wouldn't second the motion, and Brady, board chair seconded the motion. Brady and Marsyla voted for the motion, which passed, and Cothren opposed it.