Lubbock Boosts Security
By Jessica Hendershot
In light of recent events, President Bush has decided to take federal, state, and local security to a higher level. The Court Security Improvement Act was signed by Bush last year and will soon go into effect in Lubbock County. Although a date has yet to be released, the Sheriff’s department is in funding stages to purchase the equipment needed to secure the perimeter of the Lubbock County Courthouse. 
The Courthouse will soon be equipped with metal detectors and x-ray machines at all entrances. Also extra protection will be added for those working with the incarcerated. In order to be bailed out, one must be fingerprinted with an electronic laser fingerprint machine.
The security measurements are being widely accepted by those who work inside the courthouse as well as Lubbock constituents. Tech student and junior psychology major from Fort Worth, Shannon Bracket said she feels encouraged by the Act. She said her last trip to the courthouse left her wondering about the lack of security.
“I was really surprised by the lack of security,” Bracket said. “I expected to have to go through the same type of obstacle course they have set up at the airport.”
The courthouse previously only boasted a few security guards outside each entrance and a guard station inside. People wanting to access rooms or offices in the interior of the building must walk through a metal detector and remove bags and all forms of technology from their person to scan through an x-ray machine.
These forms of security are being praised by the City of Lubbock after news of a deadly shooting spree at a City Council meeting in Kirkwood, Missouri on Feb. 8. The gunman opened fire and claimed five victims at the meeting, and then took his own life. The city’s mayor was among those wounded and critically injured.
Some think the bill is a step in the right direction but believe it might be too extreme for Lubbock. Cody Crawford, a senior history major from Tyler, Texas, said he doesn’t think many dangerous criminals visit the Lubbock County Courthouse.
“The day Lubbock has a serial killer in its courthouse is day the day I eat my words and praise this bill,” Crawford said with a laugh. “I just don’t see that happening anytime soon.”
Jonathan Sanchez is a senior industrial major graduating in May. He said he doesn’t think Lubbock is a place of violence and said he thinks the changes will be ineffective.
“It’s not like people are shooting and stabbing each other in there,” Sanchez said. “I don’t really see the big reason for upping security...especially in Lubbock.”
Sanchez said he does believe the Act is important though. His mother works at the courthouse in Forth Worth, and he said he is glad she will be better secured.
Security is also undergoing a makeover at the Federal Building here in Lubbock. Several cameras monitor movement inside the building and one of six security guards is in charge of monitoring the control room.
C.B. Baiza, a security guard at the federal building for almost five years, said the first five months of the year is a heavy traffic period for the building, due to people visiting the tax office on the fourth floor.
Robert Campbell, works alongside Baiza and said the security improvement at the courthouse is imperative.
“Our most important job is to protect the people and the judge in the courtroom,” Campbell said.
There are those in Lubbock that do not feel they will be affected by the bill. Several Tech students that will be graduating before the changes from the Act take place said although they won’t be directly affected from the Lubbock changes they will be looking forward to the security improvements in the cities they will be moving to.
The security measurements are slated for upgrade by October of this year. Until then, extra security guards and new camera equipment will be implemented to give constituents a more comfortable feeling when they do have to visit any of the county or federal buildings in downtown Lubbock.