BLOOMFIELD -- Courtroom security at the Stoddard County Justice Center was a topic before the County Commission earlier this week as Associate Circuit Judge Joe Satterfield addressed the commission. Satterfield came before the commission at the request of Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis.
Mathis said he became concerned last week when County Sheriff Carl Hefner was summoned to a courtroom in the Justice Center while court proceedings were underway. Mathis said he was notified of the situation, and his first thought was that "something bad had happened." He said he called an official in the courthouse who was uncertain what was going on, but told him deputies had just gone into a courtroom.
"I have a concern," said Mathis. "There are a lot of crazy people as we know from all the shootings in the news."
The situation turned out to be an unruly prisoner who was being arraigned in court for terroristic threatening. The hearing was before Satterfield, who had the prisoner removed from the courtroom, and then halted court proceedings for the day.
"This individual got out of control," said Satterfield.
Satterfield said he was concerned not only about his own safety, but the safety of all the employees and people in the courtrooms in the county.
"It was a dangerous situation," stated Satterfield. "I see it getting worse."
Satterfield said the commission needed to go to Kennett, Mo., to observe courtroom security in Dunklin County. He said they have metal detectors for those attending hearings and trials. They also have bullet-proof plexiglass for the safety of court personnel.
"Kennett has a very secure courthouse," said Satterfield.
He said Cape Girardeau has an escape hatch for court personnel in the event of an emergency. He noted that Stoddard County has no security screenings for those entering the courtroom, nor any safety provisions in the event of a shooting. He said the only bailiff in the courtroom is focused on prisoners being brought before the court.
"We have gone for years with the premise that nothing is going to happen in Stoddard County," Satterfield told the commission. "People now have no respect for court clerk or, court personnel, not just for judges."
Commissioner Danny Talkington asked if Satterfield had experienced any problems with the audience in the courtroom.
"It is not just the prisoners," said Satterfield. "The people coming into the courthouse can be threatening."
Satterfield went on to say that some of disturbances involve family members of prisoners. He said he has more concerns about the safety of attorneys and other people in the courtroom than he has for the judge. He said the judge is situated a distance from the other people in the courtroom.
Mathis said his major concern was also for the gallery attending court proceedings.
"My intent is for us to take a look at this, and get on the same page," said Mathis.
Talkington asked how often there there has been an occurrence in a courtroom or in the gallery.
"Thursday was not a rare occurrence," responded Sattterfield. "At least two bailiffs within the last year have had to go into the gallery in the courtroom."
Satterfield related a story of a man and his wife who were seated in the courtroom awaiting the start of court proceedings. He said the man asked the bailiff if guns were allowed in the courtroom. The bailiff told him, "no." The man had a handgun in his possession, but left to take it out of the courtroom. A few months later, the man was arrested at Boomland in Scott City, Mo., after an altercation for being a felon in possession of knives and guns.
Talkington commented, "We've been fortunate so far."
"Things are changing," responded Satterfield.
Mathis said he has often spoken with Satterfield about court security, but had not taken it seriously until the incident last week. He said making the courtroom more secure would be expensive.
"It has been a financial concern," said Mathis. "There is a cost for the security."
The commission agreed that the matter needed study and consideration.
Mathis asked Satterfield to meet with Circuit Judge Rob Mayer and Associate Circuit Judge Steve Mitchell to put together some ideas for increasing safety in the county's courtrooms.
"We will see what we can do," said Mathis.