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INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBFIRS No. 2�89
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council January 26, 1993
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MUNICIPAL COURT SECURITY
As a result of the tragic shooting which occurred in the Dallas County Court House
Tuesday, there has been increased interesV in the level of security found in our
Municipal Court. The purpose of this I.R. is to inform you of on-going efforts to
increase security in the Municipal Court.
Prior to October 1992, security in the Municipal Court House consisted of Bailiffs
assigned to each courtroom, security cameras over the front lobby cashier stations
and back cashier station, all cashier stations (front lobby area and back area)
enclosed in security glass, call-down capability for all areas of the department in
which city marshals respond in emergency situations (this telephone feature was
recently upgraded to incorporate a"panic alarm" with a location indicator), back door
access to the Data Entry/Warrant Clerk area controlled through an electronic door
button, and the back door to the first floor judicial chambers kept locked. Persons
wishing to have an audience with judges must go through the courtrooms. Back door
access to the Public Safety & Courts Building monitored through a closed circuit
camera, after hours access to the building controlled through key-card doors, and
metal detectors available for use on an as needed basis. (To date there has only been
one trial which was felt to be controversial enough to warrant use.)
On August 11, 1992, Chief Judge Bonnie Sudderth sent a memo to the City Council
Municipal Court Advisory Committee requesting additional security measures be
taken. While there have been no incidences of violence or assaults in the Municipal
Court building since 1985 when the jail in the basement was vacated, and even
though Municipal Court only deals with Class C misdemeanors unlike the higher
courts where the last two incidents occurred (both related to family law cases), we
share Judge Sudderth's concern for the safety of our employees and the general
public. For that reason, to date we have changed the building directory for the Public
Safety & Courts Building to restrict access to 2nd floor prosecutor offices, installed
lead shields in each of the five courtroom benches at a cost of $3,740 and installed
twenty-two telephones with "panic alarm buttons" and location indicator features.
Four additional telephones are to be installed. The total cost for the telephone
upgrades was $3,000.
ChiefJudge Sudderth, City Attorney Wade Adkins and Assistant City Manager Libby
Watson are continuing to discuss further possible improvements.
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- |SSSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS --~��
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7689
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council January 26, 1993
Page 2 of 2
Subject: MUNICIPAL COURT SECURITY
In addition to the Municipal Court, security is a great concern at other City facilities,
particularly at multipurpose centers and recreation centers. Over the last eighteen
months a committee of staff from both the Housing and Human Services and Park
and Recreation Departments has been meeting to address this issue. The
departments have standardized rules of conduct for the centers as well as penalties
for rule violation. Signs are being posted in all centers listing these rules in English
and Spanish. The departments work closely with the Police Department to arrange
security support on an as needed basis. Officers are invited to drop by the centers
as time allows and many officers participate in various youth programs. In spite of
this and in spite of prominent "No Guns Allowed" signs posted at the entrance to
each center, on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week we had three separate
incidences involving a gun at three different recreation centers. Other security
measures, including an I.D. card system are currently being reviewed. However this
may not be enough.
If you would like any additional information, please don't hesitate to contact
Assistant City Manager Libby Watson.
Bob Terrell
City Manager
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