Local officials say they're confident about security

Officials overseeing security at the Spartanburg County Courthouse believe adequate safety measures are in place here and were not worried by Friday's courthouse shooting in Atlanta.

Jail Director Larry Powers explained that no security arrangement is perfect, but said the county courthouse is safer than it has been in years.

Detention officers screen courthouse doors for weapons and make sure prisoners are controlled. Spartanburg County Sheriff's deputies are in charge of judges' security.

Powers explained that detention officers carry guns but have them in special holsters, which have three safeguards that make it more difficult for someone to take a gun away from an officer.

Powers added that extra officers are assigned to courtrooms where criminals and alleged criminals are being held.

"Safety is always an issue," said Circuit Judge Mark Hayes, but he added that he had confidence in courthouse security.

"They have demonstrated to me that they take their job extremely seriously."

Clerk of Court Marc Kitchens pushed for detention officers to take over much of courthouse security more than a year ago. The switch was made after a private security guard misplaced her gun in the courthouse.

"We haven't had anything happen in awhile," Powers said.

Powers said a woman tried to take a gun into the building March 2. She had the weapon in her pocketbook.

At least one man tried Friday afternoon to take a pocketknife into the courthouse. He was told to take the weapon back to his car.

"It's necessary," one officer said flatly of the security measures.