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Fife Courthouse

Bill Starks

State Researcher
Joined
Dec 27, 2007
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4,304
Location
Nortonville, KY, USA
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At court for a Red Light Camera Violation

As far as weapons, they are in compliance, they have lockboxes. No ID check, no CPL required, just put it in the lockbox, then go back out and empty your pockets and walk thru the metal detector.

The first officer would not let me just unholster my weapon, I had to insert the whole holster, which meant removing it from my belt with a torn bicep on my left arm, not an easy task with a Open Top Galco.

Receiving the weapon was quick but the (new) officer took the weapon from the holster, dropped the mag, then had issues racking the slide on a 1911. I had to tell him to drop the thumb safety to which point he said something about people and their ancient weapons. He unloads the weapon right there in the corridor, reholsters it and hands it, the mag & round back to me. He says due to recent events he does not hand back a loaded weapon. I told him I would have preferred he escorted me back to my truck and hand the weapon to me versus what he did. I got the "do you see concern in my eyes look." At that point I shoved my weapon into my waist band, zipped up my jacket and headed for the truck, where I took the time to reload and reattach my holster.

As far as the camera violation, I got off with a warning to stop behind the stop line from now on.
 

BigDave

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Nov 22, 2006
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3,456
Location
Yakima, Washington, USA
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Sounds like these officers are over reacting as I can see no issue of you or anyone placing their weapon into a locker and secure it and retrieve it like wise.

In Yakima at the Police Department/Court are in the same building with in the same area so one has to secure their weapon at the door in which there are security officers that will hand you a key and you can secure and retrieve your weapon with out assistance in front of them, no issue.

Yakima County Courthouse is different though and I will look to address that issue down the road once the County Ordinances are dealt with.
Yakima County Courthouse is in the upper levels of the building that can be accessed by 4 stairwells and 2 elevators and yet they post downstairs that are not related to court posted and cannot carry into the building.
For one to secure their firearm you must call security where they will come down and retrieve it return outside the building (just plain stupid).

I am glad to see you responded quite well and non confrontational as those issues can be dealt with after the fact, even though they are idiotic.
 

Jeff Hayes

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Mar 10, 2009
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2,569
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Long gone
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Officer #2 is an accident looking for a place to happen, both his attitude and knowledge could use a little work. I wonder how would he feel if he was basicaly disarmed until he got to his car every time he left the Court House.
 

heresolong

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2007
Messages
1,318
Location
Blaine, WA, ,
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Orphan wrote:
Officer #2 is an accident looking for a place to happen, both his attitude and knowledge could use a little work. I wonder how would he feel if he was basicaly disarmed until he got to his car every time he left the Court House.
This is a very good point. You might call the Sheriff (who is presumably in charge of police officers at the county level) and point out the inherent danger of an unknowledgable person clearing a weapon in a public place. Maybe a change in policy where they ask you to clear the weapon prior to putting it in the lockbox or a change in policy where they realize what a pointless exercise this is would be in order.

PS I encourage you to take this on yourself or work with someone. BD shouldn't have to do every single contact by himself.

PPS This reminds me of the story someone posted up here quite some time ago about figuring out how to unload a Nagant pistol. According to them it was almost impossible to figure out without the instruction manual. Might be fun to carry that to the courthouse and wait while the officer tried to figure out that one. :)

PPPS Wow, I keep seeing new and interesting things in this thread. I would also be sure to complain about possible damage to your equipment as he dropped your magazine. Depending on how it fell, it could have made the magazine unusable.
 

kparker

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Nov 10, 2006
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1,326
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Tacoma, Washington, USA
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Yakima County Courthouse is in the upper levels of the building that can be accessed by 4 stairwells and 2 elevators and yet they post downstairs that are not related to court posted and cannot carry into the building.

Same as the County-City Building here in Tacoma, and I'll bet you'll get the same (perfectly valid) justification: they'd have to run 6 metal-detector stations per floor occupied by the court if they did it that way. And movements of court-related people between floors would have to go through the detectors each and every time.
 

BigDave

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Nov 22, 2006
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3,456
Location
Yakima, Washington, USA
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kparker wrote:
Yakima County Courthouse is in the upper levels of the building that can be accessed by 4 stairwells and 2 elevators and yet they post downstairs that are not related to court posted and cannot carry into the building.

Same as the County-City Building here in Tacoma, and I'll bet you'll get the same (perfectly valid) justification: they'd have to run 6 metal-detector stations per floor occupied by the court if they did it that way. And movements of court-related people between floors would have to go through the detectors each and every time.
Well some what like Tacoma Pierce County although Yakima does not have security until you reach the second floor ! :shock: but restrict the first floor for what I can see no authority in law or reason.

What is surprising is the only security is outside the District Courts and not through out the floor nor on the 3rd floor which houses Superior Court ! :shock:

If I were a Judge I would be demanding things change.
 
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