Week 7 - Court Security & Tour of Courthouse - JCSO Citizen's Academy

Lieutenant Becky Barton, Master Deputy Carl Alvano and Deputy Lucas Eimers gave a spirited discussion of Courthouse history as well as JCSO's role in providing courthouse security and led us on a tour.  For the Division's mission statement and chain of command click here:  http://www.jocosheriff.org/index.aspx?page=100. 

A brief history of the courthouse:  The Courthouse is home to the County's district courts system, housing all of its court rooms and court services, the District Attorney's office, the law library and much of the Sheriff's operations. The Johnson County Courthouse stands at the corner of Santa Fe and Kansas Ave. in downtown Olathe, KS.  It was built in four phases (which are easily identifiable as you walk through the building and see the different floor and light configurations). In 1951, the original courthouse was demolished to make way for a more modern structure.  A second addition was added in 1954. Two more additions came along, the first in 1968 and the second, the eight story tower, was started in 1972 and completed in 1976.  Click this link if you would like to view a slide show of the history of the Courthouse: http://facilities.jocogov.org/buildings/Courthouse.htm. 

Court Security started with one deputy and now has 18 deputies assigned to the Division.  The role of deputies is to protect Judges and the Public who enter the courthouse doors.  In 2011, 589,661 individuals were screened by JCSO deputies.  Everyone except for Judges and court appointed JCSO deputies must go through screening.  In 2011, 0 illegal weapons were confiscated.  1139 warrant arrests were executed.  

Before setting off on our tour here are a few items deputies displayed that have been confiscated from individuals as they were screened coming in to the courthouse:

Pretty amazing that people try to bring this stuff in considering there are a number of signs on your way in that tell you these things are illegal and will be confiscated!

Picture of the entrance.  I am looking at it from the top of the stairs down but if you notice there are signs on the doors that tell you to be prepared to empty your pockets and that all illegal items such as guns and other weapons will be confiscated.

Lt. Barton talking about the history pictured on the walls.  To the right is another sign telling us what can and can't be brought in to the courthouse.  This pic is in the entry way before you get to the screening area.

Is it not obvious by now???

Although there haven't been many incidents in the JC Courthouse, the possibility always exists. In 1988 there was a murder-suicide outside the courthouse. There has been one suicide in the courthouse in a bathroom. Somebody apparently wasn't happy with the outcome of their court case....  The third floor of the courthouse is rumored to be haunted because of the suicide in the bathroom.

And now for a brief tour:  We started at the top and worked our way down!  Here are some pictures from the top of the courthouse:

I posted one of the above pictures on facebook while we were going through the tour and one of my smartaleck friends asked if I was trying to escape.  Funny!!!  Geez........ gotta love my friends!

Here's a few pics from inside some of the courtrooms:

Cameras aren't allowed in the courtrooms but you will notice cameras in the hallways to assist deputies with security.  Here is an archaic camera.  Most of the time you will just notice the black bubbles that have a camera hiding inside.  There are panic buttons in every courtroom.  Response time for help by additional deputies is within one minute.  Generally the Judges feel pretty safe.

On the seventh floor is a picture of Paul Revere (forgot to take a pic, sorry!) that Deputy Alvano swears the eyes follow him as he walks down the hall! 

The DA's reside on a few of the floors including 4&5.  Things can get tense on those floors.

4th floor is where the old jail used to be.  Here is a pic of the old recreation room.  It was pretty small.

The 3rd floor is rumored to be haunted because of a suicide in one of the bathrooms.  Declined to take a pic of the bathroom.  A picture of the ghost would have been cool though! 

The second floor is the main entrance for the public.  We enter through the South entrance and must pass through screening before going anywhere in the courthouse.  Metal detectors became part of the screening process in 1997.

 

Only court assigned JCSO deputies can carry weapons while in the courthouse.  All other law enforcement must lock their guns, etc in a locker when they are in the courthouse.

When prisoners are transported to the courthouse they are housed across the street and shuttled across via the underground tunnel.  This is for public safety as well as the individual(s) in custody.

Also on the second floor is the court clerk if you are lucky enough to need to file paperwork, etc. Courtrooms (usually civil such as small claims, evictions, etc.) and the "Goddess of Justice".

"Goddess of Justice" 
She used to be on the roof but resides inside full time now on the second floor just after you pass through screening. 
She gets a good deep cleaning once a year.

Here are some more pictures of the history depicted on the walls as you come in the south entrance prior to going in to screening:

Here are a few pictures from outside the courthouse on the south side where the public enters:

And that concludes our tour.  Thanks again to Lieutenant Becky Barton, Master Deputy Carl Alvano and Deputy Lucas Eimers!