Security Enhancements Being Made At Berrien County Courthouse

berriencountycourthouse-4
berriencountycourthouse-4

Two additional deputies will now serve as full-time guards at the Berrien County Courthouse in St. Joseph. The county board of commissioners approved the expenditure at a Thursday meeting in response to last month’s courthouse shootings. Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey says they used to always have two deputies or one deputy and a bailiff transport inmates, but budget cuts around 2005 meant there were fewer deputies employed at the courthouse. He says always having two officers with the inmate will immediately improve security. The department is making other changes, as well.

“We are replacing all of our holsters, and we are upgrading them to level three, and we are receiving a bunch of belts and a bunch of handcuffs to be able to secure inmates better,” Bailey told WSJM.

The unanimous county commission vote Thursday came after an ad hoc committee was formed to address courthouse security. The committee will meet again on August 18 to discuss more long-term measures.