Cape Girardeau County commissioner wants to install security measures at courthouse

A Cape Girardeau County commissioner believes he has a solution to what he considers minimal security at the county courthouse in Jackson.

Proposed during the commission's meeting Thursday, the plan calls for security cameras, doors with electronic locks and X-ray equipment.

First District Commissioner Paul Koeper, who presented the plan, said he doesn't want an incident like what occurred Feb. 7, 2008, in Kirkwood, Mo., happening in Jackson. During a city council meeting a gunman rushed the chambers and shot two police officers and three other people before police fatally shot him.

"I would like the county to take a proactive response to this rather than reactive," Koeper said.

For the past five months, Koeper said, he has met with representatives from the sheriff's, prosecuting attorney's, circuit clerk's and judges' offices to seek their input on the issue.

Most of the plan would center on the main level of the 100-year-old building. The main entrance for the public would be through the east entrance and would include an X-ray machine, walk-through metal detector and security cameras at three locations. The other two entrances currently in use for the public would be emergency exits.

An entrance to the prosecuting attorney's office would have two glass partitions that would allow documents to be passed through and a new door with electric locks with accessibility only with a card swipe.

Also on that floor would be energy-efficient security doors with electric locks. The doors would be equipped with panic buttons in case of an emergency.

The basement floor would have a new door in the hallway and cameras and a buzzer at the entrance. This would notify the security guard on duty when someone wants to enter. The guard would then use a hand metal detector to check for weapons. New benches would also be added in the hallway to accommodate the public.

As for the top floor, the entrance to the circuit clerk's office could be similar to that of the prosecuting attorney. Security cameras and benches would be added on that floor.

The plan would cost about $71,000. Koeper said the price could be reduced by $20,000 if the county is awarded a federal grant.

When reached for comment after the meeting, Circuit Judge William Syler said he supported the plan.

"There's too many nuts out there, plain and simple," Syler said. "It's a shame to isolate the courthouses, but it's part of the present times in which we're living."

Koeper said he will focus on improving security at the Jackson courthouse before dealing with security issues at the Common Pleas Courthouse in Cape Girardeau.

During a time of public input, Charles Brawley of Cape Girardeau said that as a retired Cape Girardeau fire captain he believes anytime security can be enhanced, it is a good move.

"By tackling one at a time you're going to learn from the first one and you're better prepared for how to deal with the second one," said Brawley, who is also a candidate for presiding commissioner.

Allegations disputed

Later in the meeting 2nd District Commissioner Jay Purcell addressed a guest column by Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones in the May 25 edition of the Southeast Missourian.

Purcell disputed Jones' allegations, saying they were untrue. He asked county commission administrative assistant Donna Oldham to research agenda items, discussion and dates of commission meetings regarding an accusation about the purchase of furniture from a campaign contributor without a bid and another accusation of violating the Sunshine Law while negotiating the purchase of Kelley Transportation for one of his friends.

"You are making allegations of the performance of a county commissioner," Purcell told Jones.

Jones said his allegations were true.

"You're allowed to say that?" Purcell said. "It's not true."

Gale Crites of Jackson attended the meeting in response to the column and addressed the commission about arguments between Purcell and Jones.

"We get tired of reading the thing in the paper," he said. "It's a joke. You go to the coffee shop, and everybody laughs about what you're doing."

bblackwell@semissourian.com

243-8600

Pertinent address:

1 Barton Square, Jackson, MO