Courthouse security measures taken by commissioners

Since the courthouse shooting in December, Cook County commissioners have been considering security measures for the safety of the public and courthouse staff. This week commissioners formed a study committee to consider long-term security and also took some short term actions. Commissioner Sue Hakes said the board acted on security requests from the county attorney’s office and the sheriff.

“The county board unanimously passed a motion to make the west entrance to the county courthouse the only access point. You can only enter from the west side. You exit any of the other doors, but you can only access from the west side.”

The west side of the building is where the large parking lot is and it’s handicapped accessible. She said dealing with the separate entrance to Public Health and Human Services still needs to be resolved.

She said another action was to authorize the sheriff to add staffing at events or activities at his discretion as he sees fit, at least for the next three months, without regard to his current budget.

“The third thing that we did is we formed a real small committee with the idea we can respond quickly; to take a look at the county attorney’s office and make some security changes there. We’re going to do some different locks, change some walls, secure the hallway between the public and the courtroom.”

The board also agreed to put signs on the doors banning guns in the courthouse building. She admitted, signs won’t prevent guns in the building but it sets a tone.

“We’ve talked about perfume in the county courthouse and we haven’t talked about guns. So we did unanimously agree to put that signage up as well. Those changes will be in effect within the next few days, probably no later than Monday.”