BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD – With a directive from the state Supreme Court in hand, plans are in the works to enhance the safety of the town’s municipal court operation.
According to Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina, a municipal court security committee has developed a plan and is ready to submit it for review.
The committee members were Freehold Borough Municipal Court Judge Scott Basen, court administrator Stacey Kitson, Borough Council-man Kevin Kane, who is the liaison to the municipal court, Police Chief Michael Beierschmitt and Bellina.
The three key components of the security plan are architectural, techno-logical and operational.
According to information provided by the borough, the plan must address the following issues: The perimeter (parking lots to physical security of the building exterior), access control (control monitoring of entrances, exits, and weapons screening), circulation control (appropriate separation of public, prisoners, judges and staff), courtroom security (order, control of prisoners etc.), and emergency procedures.
The plan addresses the perimeter by describing the location of the police department and municipal court, which share the same building – the Rug Mill Towers – on Jackson Street. Details such as parking lot lighting and security cameras are included.
Access control includes an on-duty armed police officer to be stationed next to the judge in the courtroom when court is in session. When prisoners are entering the room, a second armed police officer is to be stationed next to the prisoners.
Circulation control is addressed by having police employ a a walk-through metal detector at the door to the courtroom. All persons entering the courtroom will have to pass through the scanner. Members of the public will only be allowed access to the courtroom after they have satisfied the officers that there are no dangerous items in their possession.
Packages will be subject to a search. If someone objects to having a package searched, they will have the option to return the package to their car and enter the courtroom without it. If a weapon or contraband is discovered the police officer will follow departmental procedures.
Within the courtroom security section, the information states that the judge’s bench will have a ballistic shield installed and a panic button located next to the judge on the bench. When the panic button is pressed, the Freehold Borough police dispatch will be notified immediately and an appropriate response will be taken.
To address prisoner transportation and access, a camera is consistently recording the prisoners while in the police department’s booking area as
they enter the courtroom.
Other items on the list include the installation of a video-conferencing system to eliminate the need to transport prisoners from county jails and state prisons. This system will be used for all prisoners who are scheduled to be arraigned unless a prisoner wishes to take a pending court matter to trial, in which case he or she will be transported by the Freehold Borough Police Department.
In order to implement the plan established by the municipal court security committee, the borough will need to make the following capital acquisitions: perimeter security cameras ($13,000); walk-through metal detector ($5,000); hand-held metal detector ($500); perimeter signs ($2,000); and video-conferencing ($11,000). Engineering and architectural fees will be extra, Bellina said.
An additional annual expense of $25,000 will be incurred to provide an armed officer for all scheduled municipal court sessions.
Bellina said a bond ordinance to effectuate the suggestions contained in the plan will be prepared for Borough Council members to approve. The ordinance may be ready by February, he said.