MuskogeePhoenix.com, Muskogee, OK

Editorials

Discussion

August 6, 2012

Courthouse security worth price

Making the Muskogee County Courthouse more secure is an unfortunate, but necessary, sign of the times.

New courthouse security measures include:

• Limiting public access to the exterior door in the parking garage;

• Placing guards at the courthouse entrance;

• Screening visitors with a metal detector; and

• Screening packages with an X-ray machine in the future.

Muskogee County Sheriff Charles Pearson said tighter security has been a concern for some time. However, budget constraints delayed the new procedures until this month.

Pearson said he spent about $45,000 on the equipment, which includes surveillance cameras.

Manning the security post is expected to cost an estimated $110,000 per year.

The added security at the courthouse was overdue.

The increased security measures will make the courthouse safer, but also will make it less convenient for visitors.

Unfortunately, we live in a day and age when we will be increasingly inconvenienced to stay safe.

As Muskogee County Undersheriff Terry Freeman said, “You’re not going to have total convenience and total security.”

We are not in favor of surrendering our constitutional rights to due process and illegal search-and-seizure.

However, we are not opposed to a little inconvenience when lives could be at stake.

 Arriving a little earlier than before is a small price to pay.

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