County Moves Quickly to Boost Security in Courtrooms

To tighten courthouse security, Los Angeles County officials are buying metal detectors and other safety devices and are considering boosting the number of marshals and sheriff’s deputies guarding courtrooms, according to a report released Tuesday.

The purchases were approved by Richard Dixon, chief county administrative officer, after agreement last week by the Board of Supervisors that more security is needed. A request for 13 more officers for courtroom security duty is pending before Dixon.

“I think we’ve got to move quickly on this, and these are certainly the first steps in enhancing courthouse security,” said Deane Dana, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, which formed the special task force after a March 9 gun battle in a Van Nuys Municipal courtroom.

The shooting occurred in a temporary courtroom bungalow next to the main courthouse when Jeremey A. Sigmond, 35, of Sepulveda pulled an automatic pistol and threatened to kill a prosecutor. Sigmond was killed in an exchange of gunfire with a court bailiff, county Deputy Marshal Cliff Wofford, who was wounded.

Urgent Pleas

The unexpected violence touched off urgent pleas for additional courtroom security from law enforcement officers who, to make their point, dramatically displayed before the Board of Supervisors dozens of guns, ice picks and switch-blade knives that had been seized at two county courthouses.

The supervisors last week agreed that detection devices should be used to screen courtroom visitors. They named a task force, which includes judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officials, to study the problem.

After its first meeting last Friday, the task force agreed that “immediate action” was needed and recommended the purchase of 70 additional portable radios for $140,000; 37 hand-held metal detectors for $1,850, and 20 larger, hand-held “wand” metal detectors for $3,000. Dixon accepted these recommendations and placed the orders.

In addition, $6,000 was approved for courthouse signs that will advise visitors entering the facilities that they may be searched.

$150,850 in Equipment

In all, the task force recommended and Dixon authorized the purchase of $150,850 worth of security-related equipment, which he said is only the beginning.

“I think every several weeks, you will see other things that we come up with to enhance security,” Dixon said.

Law enforcement officials have already requested an additional 13 marshals or sheriff deputies to beef up their patrols, and Dixon said his office is reviewing that proposal.

The increased manpower, if approved, plus the new security equipment will be used in regular courthouses as well as the makeshift courtrooms, such as the Van Nuys bungalow where the shootings took place, Dixon said. He added, however, that the task force placed the first priority on safeguarding the temporary courtrooms scattered throughout the county.

Dixon said the money for the added security will come from the criminal justice facility temporary construction fund, which finances various projects. However, he added that the expenditures will not delay any other projects financed by the fund.

Wofford, who is recovering from his wounds, was praised Tuesday by supervisors who asked that a new medal of valor for individuals in the deputy marshal’s office be created. At the urging of Supervisor Kenneth Hahn, the board unanimously agreed that Wofford, 30, of Palmdale, should be named the first recipient.