More stringent security precautions in place at Dougherty County Courthouse

ALBANY — Visitors and employees coming to the Dougherty County Courthouse should prepare themselves for a little more security precautions, according to Capt. Craig Dodd of the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office.

“Basically, every year or so we have to upgrade all of our security measures,” Dodd said. “This is a way for us to bring things up to date, which is required by statute. So we’ve had federal marshals come through and give us an idea of where we are lacking in our security and where we need to tighten things up a little bit.”

According to Dodd, the most recent security improvements were inspired by changes to the state’s weapons laws.

“This year a lot of it has to do with the changes in the weapons law and permits to carry laws,” Dodd said. “With regards to weapons, security personnel will continue to use existing protocols to ensure that persons from the general public and others do not bring any weapons or prohibited items, such as knives, box-cutters, razors, matches, cigarette lighters, e-cigarettes and or vapor cigarettes and any firearms into the courthouse.”

According to Dodd, when persons are screened coming into the courthouse, they have the option to return any prohibited items to their vehicles, but they can no longer leave the items with security personnel or they will be discarded.

“We are not going to hold any personal items anymore,” Dodd said. “If it is a prohibited item, do not bring it in. If you have a firearm, lock it in your trunk.”

Other security upgrades include a restriction on refreshments, such as sodas or drinks, being brought into the building.

“Only employees who work in the building, can bring refreshments into the building,” Dodd said. “There’s just too many ways to bring something in a Coke bottle or something like that. This includes sodas, shakes, smoothies, bottled water, etc. No other liquids with the exception of court evidence and baby formula in plastic bottles is allowed beyond the security desk.”

The new security measures extend to delivery personnel as well, Dodd said.

“All bags and packages must be scanned,” he said. “No exceptions. Persons shall be asked to remove any items that make the metal detector alert. It could be a lipstick tube, but if it alerts, you will have to take it out and let us inspect it.”

Dodd also addressed the issue of persons who have legal carry permits for a firearm.

“No firearms are allowed, end of story,” he said. “Members of the general public who have carry permits issued by Probate Court are not permitted to bring a firearm into the Judicial Building and shall be required to return those firearms to their vehicle before entering.”

Enforcement of parking around the courthouse has also increased, according to Dodd, who pointed out that parking along the east side of the courthouse is for law enforcement only.

“These changes are intended to increase safety for everyone who works here and visits here,” he said.

For more information, contact the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office at (229) 431-3222.