The Guthrie County Sheriff’s office is beginning to implement their new metal detector for courthouse security.

 

Sheriff Marty Arganbright says over the next several business days, they’ll begin to test the metal detector and having just one point of entry into the courthouse. “We’ll put it (the metal detector) in the east entrance, and not use the west entrance — lock it up for now, temporarily, though it can still be used as an exit for emergency reasons that could arise. We’ll have the entrance in the east, which has the handicap ramp and parking, so we’ll utilize it there and see how it works.”

 

Arganbright hopes the trial period lasts as short as possible before the metal detector is fully implemented. “I think to make the courthouse more secure, it’s got to be (operational) Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.. It’s just a process to getting there, and that’s my goal.”

 

He adds hiring somebody to man the metal detector is the key to daily operation, and finding funds to do that is his next challenge. “Probably somebody that has law enforcement experience, can carry a weapon and can do the job effectively. It’s something that I’ll to see if I can work into my existing budget, or if it’s something I’ll need to budget for in the future, is what I’ll look at.”
Residents are reminded to make sure to double check they are not unintentionally carrying any firearms, knives, or other weapons into the courthouse, which is a weapon-free zone.