In his ongoing efforts to bolster security across Allen County, Sheriff Anthony Maness has outlined several key initiatives aimed at enhancing safety, particularly within the courthouse. His priorities include filling a long-vacant courthouse security position, improving communication systems, and planning for a future in-house law enforcement training facility.
“We provide security, but we don’t dictate what that security looks like. That will be up to the Commission,” said Maness, referring to the courthouse security role. This position, which was approved several years ago by the Allen County Commission, has remained unfilled for extended periods. Sheriff Maness is determined to address this gap by hiring a trained deputy to provide consistent and effective courthouse security.
Visiting with commissioners last Tuesday, he took the opportunity to get their opinions. “The security of the courthouse is important, but how we implement that security should be a collaborative decision,” he said. “It’s not just about having somebody walking around the courthouse. You can have somebody walk around for eight hours a day, but that’s not even checking the box. That’s a waste of resources.”
Courthouse security position
The appointed deputy will not only oversee courtroom security but also act as a point of contact for safety concerns within the courthouse. Their responsibilities will include monitoring potential threats, providing suggestions for improvements, and engaging with the public. The position will primarily be during business hours, with flexibility for emergency situations.
Maness emphasized that while the deputy will focus on courthouse safety, all officers are trained to handle emergencies at any time.
Although he doesn’t believe that the security in the courthouse is a huge vulnerability at the moment, Maness still would like to fill the position quickly. “If we’ve already got the position approved to have somebody that can focus on and reduce potential incidents, I’m all about prevention and reduction rather than response,” he said. “If it’s already been approved, why not take it and utilize it?”
The deputy will be trained specifically in facility security, which will offer unique insights, Maness said.
“That’s all it is,” he added. “Insights based on their education, training and experience.”
He noted they are actively working to fill the courthouse security role and have already notified in-house employees of the opening.
The role isn’t meant to restrict any access to the facility, Maness added. Instead, he wants those who come into the courthouse to feel comfortable and secure. “This position shows we are paying attention to what’s going on and not just waiting for something to happen. It’s about being able to connect with people without getting distracted. They still need to be able to maintain situational awareness.”
COMMISSIONER David Lee asked Maness at a previous commission meeting about the utilization of technology to assist in the courthouse security role. “I agree, wholeheartedly, that we need to utilize technology as much as we can,” said Maness. “I’m not a real big fan of replacing people with technology. If you have technology, you have to have someone familiar with it.”
Maness added that there are different technology elements his department started years ago, but largely neglected since then. “It’s just sitting there not being utilized,” he said. “If we’re spending money on technology, we want to make sure that we’ve got somebody that’s taking care of it, monitoring it, and performing maintenance on it.”
If technology is utilized properly, the need to increase personnel can be limited, Maness said. “There will be times where I ask for more people because there are just different things where we will need additional personnel,” he explained. “But, for this specific role, I think we can work with what we’ve got.”
Secured courthouses
While many neighboring counties have adopted multi-layered security systems at their courthouses, including metal detectors and controlled entrances, Maness says there is some hesitance in implementing such measures in Allen County. He values the county’s reputation for accessibility and open communication, and he believes courthouse security should strike a balance between safety and ease of access for the public.
