Whom do you rely on for reassurance?
May 2, 2016
Michel stands firm on letter in face of T’bonne council’s criticism
May 2, 2016
Fallon Boquet knows that in an increasingly hostile world, steps must be taken to protect public buildings from people meaning harm. But as a foster mother to four children who often accompany her to the Terrebonne Parish courthouse, she wishes new security rules were not quite so stringent.
“I really think they should allow purses,” Boquet said in an interview. “I mean they check everything in there anyways. They even check my clutch wallet, which is only big enough for cards. You do have people who go up there and have to take medication at a certain time.”
And she is not alone.
A shutdown of all but two public entrances to the courthouse and its adjoining annex building, with rules that include bans on purses, cell phones and briefcases, in place since January, has become an onerous burden for some courthouse visitors. Officials say the rules will be relaxed soon, once all the heads of agencies that use the buildings sign on to a permanent plan that has been developed. But until then jurors, defendants, witnesses and researchers, among others, will have to tolerate the inconveniences.
Last week Earl Eues, the parish’s director of homeland security and emergency preparedness, met with Parish President Gordon Dove, representatives of the parish’s judiciary, the district attorney and other agencies to present a proposed set of permanent standard operating procedures.
“We are one of the last parishes in this state to implement courthouse security,” Eues said. “Not only does it protect the people that work in those facilities but also protects the public that uses those facilities. It is important that the public knows we are doing this to increase security to protect them as well.”
“Everybody is now in agreement, and under the new SOP’s purses and cell phones will be allowed in the courthouse and the new courthouse, although phones will not be allowed in the courtroom,” Eues said. “So I am hoping to put that in place once the judges sign off.”
The plans include continued use of metal detectors and an increase in the number of X-ray machines for purses, packages and briefcases. Permanent signs will inform visitors that they are subject to search and that anything determined to be a weapon will be confiscated permanently.
“You will have the option of bringing that weapon back to your car or it gets confiscated,” Eues said.
Under the new plan, some visitors, such as attorneys, will go to the front of any lines that form, upon presentation of their Bar Association cards.
Current practices were put in place after being developed on an emergency basis by a consortium of law enforcement agencies, in preparation for the rape trial of Terry Smith, alleged to be a member of the anti-government Sovereign Citizens movement, at the beginning of the year. Because of the escape risk Smith and at least one witness in his trial posed, additional measures included placement of sharpshooters inside of the building and outside. At that time, Eues said, the new rules under consideration were still being developed. When the Smith trial ended officials decided to keep the new rules in place until the process was completed.
The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office posted the new rules on its Facebook page April 26, identifying the authorized public entrances as the main doors of the old courthouse on West Main Street and the entrance closest to Sheriff Jerry Larpenter’s offices at Church and Verret streets.
“Upon entering the building, all subjects will be screened,” the posting states. “Cellular phones, pocket knives, and purses are not allowed inside of the building. Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies and officers with the Houma Police Department are available to assist at both entrances if necessary. We thank everyone for their cooperation in this effort to make our building a more secure environment.”
The posting drew immediate fire.
“Watch and see,” Houma resident Linda Rawlings posted in response. “More vehicles will be broken into because now everybody and their brothers know that women’s purses are in their vehicles. Why are the men allowed to bring in wallets? Not Fair.”
Fallon Boquet posted a similar response, and when interviewed said that far from increasing personal security for her, the cell phone ban increases risk.
The father of the children she fosters, Boquet said, is on one side of an intense legal struggle regarding the children. She fears that leaving her phone in her car increases her vulnerability to an attack.
Cell phones, purses and other bags are allowed routinely into the Lafourche Parish courthouse after scans are completed, officials there said.
The new policy, Eues said, was based largely on what has worked in Lafourche, whose protocols are seen as a good model for Terrebonne Parish.
New procedures are also being prepared for the Government Tower offices at West Main and Barrow streets, including passage through metal detectors for entrance to public meetings, and a requirement that identification be presented to enter office areas during working hours.
Lucretia McBride, a community advocate and frequent visitor to the government offices, said she was alarmed upon seeing a sign in the lobby of the Government Tower that mentions the identification requirement, which she brands a “Gestapo tactic,” and also objects to requiring visitors to sign in. She does not object to planned use of metal detectors.
“Why do you have to prove who you are and sign in,” she said. “A scanner will show if you are carrying anything that is not supposed to be brought in, which is fine. Why does the taxpayer have to do this? Why does government need to know who we are? Why do we have to prove who we are? We don’t need that kind of invasion of privacy.” •
PFC Terry Boquet of the Houma Police Department screens visitors at the Terrebonne Parish courthouse Monday. New security measures include a ban on purses and brief cases. But officials say that is going to change.
