Private Security for Courthouse Proposed

County Chief Executive Officer Jan Mittermeier wants to study the possibility of using a private company rather than the marshal’s office to install and operate an airport-style security system for the Central Courthouse in Santa Ana.

The Board of Supervisors will take up her request at its meeting today.

Court officials have long pushed for the security system, which they said is needed to detect weapons brought into the courthouse. But the marshal’s office expressed concerns Monday about having a private firm operate the system.

Capt. John Fuller said he doubts that private security guards would have the same level of training and experience as marshal’s office employees. He also questioned the effectiveness of having the marshal’s office handle some court security duties while giving others to a private contractor.

“It’s pretty scary to hear what Jan is proposing,” Fuller said. “It seems like another delaying tactic.”

At a Board of Supervisors meeting last month, County Marshal Michael S. Carona publicly criticized Mittermeier for not backing the security system, which would cost $400,000 to purchase and $775,000 a year to operate.

In a memo, Mittermeier said discussions with the private operator of John Wayne Airport’s security system indicated that it could run the court screening system for $390,000 a year. Mittermeier also indicated that a private firm might be able to design a less expensive security system.

“It appears that contracting with the private sector is feasible, could result in substantial cost savings and should be evaluated further,” Mittermeier wrote, adding that the U.S. marshal’s office contracts out its security screening duties in federal courts.

Fuller said that the county has discussed the possibility of having private contractors handle security screenings in the past but rejected the idea.

Under the marshal’s proposal, the screening would be handled by court services officers, who are paid less and receive less training than fully sworn deputy marshals.

“I think they have the minimum training required to perform these duties,” Fuller said. “I don’t think [private guards] would be at the professional level we are looking for.”