Monroe County’s rural and small-town atmosphere has made it a pleasant, safe place to live for decades. Most residents can even remember leaving their homes and cars unlocked without giving much thought to security.

But Monroe County Sheriff Neal Rohlfing talked about how this county is no longer living in the 1980s, and one change that has been called for is an effort to add security to the courthouse in downtown Waterloo.

Improvements to the security of the building and safety of both employees and citizens inside have not been the result of recent gun incidents across America. Instead, Monroe County Board Chairman Terry Liefer said, courthouse security has been a matter of discussion for a few years now.

Rohlfing made it a high priority when he was elected, forming a Courthouse Security Committee to examine alternatives.

Last year, access to the building was reduced by closing it to the public after normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.  This meant many evening meetings that had been held in the courthouse were redirected to other locations, including the County Annex Building on Route 3.

Access after-hours and on the weekends was also limited to the ground level south entrance and further controlled by scanner-read access cards that record the comings and goings of employees and officials.

“These changes were not popular at first,” Rohlfing acknowledged.

As time has passed, these changes are becoming more accepted as a way of life in the current times.

“We don’t want to keep people away from their work,” Rohlfing said. “If they don’t have an access card but need to get in for official business, they can pick up a temporary card here at the sheriff’s office.  We’re only a block away. Or a deputy can let them in.”

Another change over the past six months has been the addition of a full-time officer in the courthouse during normal working hours. This person, six-year sheriff’s department employee Justin Braun, is in uniform and is armed while patrolling the halls or addressing security during court sessions.

The presence of a sheriff’s department vehicle adds to the message that security is present.

Rohlfing said he also adds a second uniformed security person, usually from his part-time staff, to the building on a periodic basis or when heavy court sessions make it advisable.

Braun’s arrival on a daily basis caused concern by a few employees until they understood he was not monitoring their work, but was merely watching others who might pose potential threats.

Liz Mudd, who staffs the local office for the Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois, told the Republic-Times that she appreciated the new safety measures, especially the feeling of security she gained when Brauer was assigned to full-time courthouse duties.

She noted that sometimes people coming to the courthouse are under stress or agitated.

“The sense of added security and safety is very welcome. At least it is for me,” she said.

Rohlfing said the current steps are not the end of measures to enhance safety and security at the courthouse.

“Much manpower is expended transporting prisoners back and forth to the courthouse for arraignments. But we are almost ready to implement a real-time video arraignment system, in which the prisoner will remain in the county jail and talk with the judge on a computer hook-up,” Rohlfing said.

The county also has a metal detector that was donated by the U.S. Marshal’s Office, which will shortly be placed at the entry to the courtrooms to screen witnesses and observers.

Finally, the county is looking into adding a video system for the courthouse. This would enable both employees in the courthouse and at the sheriff’s department to monitor activity inside the building.

But this measure would not be inexpensive, Rohlfing said.  He is looking into both state and federal grants as possible funding sources for this enhancement.

“Our population is growing and we are seeing more visitors from St. Louis and the metro area,” Rohlfing said. “Most people are law-abiding citizens and visitors, but not all of them.  These changes demand that we continue to review and upgrade safety and security measures countywide.”