Bay County Courthouse

Local Tragic Events lead to New Security Upgrades at the Bay County Courthouse

Panama City - The Bay County Courthouse is increasing security measures. Bay County Sheriff's officials have just added among other things, new video surveillance cameras and an alarm system. These security enhancements, some of which are still in the works, are taking place because of some local deadly events.

Friday morning, Bay County tested it's latest security measure in the courthouse, an alarm system that can be triggered with the push of a button from nearly thirty different locations throughout the building.

"That was done in conjunction with the clerks office, the judges and our bailiffs to determine where the best locations for those are," Major Tommy Ford with the Bay County Sheriff's office said.

That's not the only new tool. The sheriff's office also installed about ten surveillance cameras. And workers have almost completed installing bullet proof material in courtrooms. If someone pulls a gun in court, the judges desk, the jury box and several other places can provide people cover from gunfire. Still to come are more than fifty deadbolt locks and parking lot security upgrades.

Commissioner George Gainer is on the steering committee that created a list of a dozen courthouse changes at a total cost of about $113thousand. The alarm system alone costs about $10 thousand.

"I think it's something that the times dictate these changes, and i think we probably all are more aware of them since the school board shooting," Gainer said.

But these improvements are really an extension of a local courthouse that happened decades ago.

"There's historical events that have occurred here locally like the shooting at the Gulf County Courthouse back in 1987 that caused courthouses around the country to rethink security," Major Ford said.

During that Gulf County alimony hearing, Clyde Melvin shot and killed an attorney, judge and his ex-wife's sister. There were no metal detectors in the courthouse at the time.

Some say these new security measures are the positive affects from such tragic events. Court officials recently installed defibrillators around the courthouse and trained some of the bailiffs how to use them.

Possible Courthouse Extension Paid Through Traffic Violations

Panama City - Looks like your next traffic ticket could cost you a little more money. Bay County officials are considering an extra charge to raise money for the courthouse. County officials say they need to expand the courthouse, and they feel the people who create the work should help pay for the cost of the extension.

The $14 million project includes new courtrooms and offices next door to the courthouse at the old county jail site. Local defense attorney Waylon Graham sees how the current courthouse operates on a daily basis.

"Everybody's on top of each other. There's not enough room. It's old. It's outdated, and the security is poor. The time has come for this," Graham said.

"The biggest thing is is that we need to have an area that is conducive to justice in government. We've got some great judges in bay county and they need more room to work," Bay County Commissioner George Gainer said.

Right now both circuit and county judges share the facilities in the current courthouse. But the new building would leaving the current courthouse for the county judges and the new facilities for circuit judges. Supporters say this will create a lot of space for more than just the judges.

The lower level of the new building would be all parking, which is hard to come by at the courthouse. The county wants to pay for the project by adding $11 to all local traffic tickets. Gainer emphasized this means absolutely no extra taxes. Supporters say it will actually save taxpayer money.

"We can move cases forward, shoulder the work load, shoulder the case load, bring the numbers down in the county jail because they get a lot of people there waiting for trials. Well, heck. We can blow right through that and get those trials done and lower the numbers of people in jail reducing the taxpayers cost," Graham said.

It costs about $50 a day to house a single inmate in the Bay County Jail. Gainer says he and his fellow commissioners will be discussing the issue in the next few weeks.

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