The Marion County Board Tuesday night unanimously approved the addition of a deputy to the staff of the Marion County Sheriff’s Department to allow a deputy to be assigned to the east courthouse security entrance along with the current correctional officer.
Since there is no money in the budget this year for the extra officer, the position will start with the new fiscal year on December first provided it is included in next year’s budget.
Sheriff Andy Garden has been pushing for the additional officer over the construction of a more elaborate infrastructure at the checkpoint. He notes when courthouse security began with just a correctional officer the county was going the cheapest route they could.
“The Correctional Officers are not trained for law enforcement work and they are not trained for active shooters because it is not in their job description. If something would happen there, with one person they are not going to stop anything. With the deputy there, they can react to something.”
Garden says the deputy could also respond to an incident in a courthouse office where the correctional officers while working alone are told not to leave their post even if someone is getting killed because you don’t know if it is a rouge by someone trying to slip in. Right now, the sheriff’s office is called to send a deputy unless the courtroom deputy is able to assist. Garden also feels some people would not try anything if there are two law enforcement officers there instead of just one.
Garden says the extra deputy could also help on overtime and filling open shifts.
The board approved the purchase of another million dollars in cyber-insurance provided the cost does not exceed $5,200. That will give the county five million dollars in coverage.
The board approved a Joint Bridge Repair request from Patoka Township to have the county pay half the $31,456 it cost to repair the bridge over Deer Creek near the Patoka School.
The board appointed Salem’s incoming Police Chief Kyle Ambuehl to replace retiring Police Chief Kyle Ambuehl on the Marion County Emergency Telephone System Board. Rita Boudet was reappointed to the Marion County Housing Authority.
