By John Leggett-The Courier-Herald
Members of the Buckley City Council had the rare opportunity to get a “State of the Court” report from the Judge Marjorie Tedrick last week.
She presides over the Buckley Municipal Court the second and fourth Thursdays of each month and hears anywhere from 80 to 100 cases each session.
With extreme candor, Tedrick made a straightforward plea, urging Buckley Mayor Patricia Johnson and the assembled council members to bring the city's judicial system into the 21st century, from a security standpoint.
Tedrick itemized the minimum security measures that should be implemented and at the top of her list was a metal detector, which has yet to be installed at the entrance to the courtroom door despite her frequent requests.
“People are always bringing in these backpacks that could have just about anything in them and there is no checkpoint whatsoever. I make judgments and rulings daily that impact people's lives, sometimes negatively, and very often they don't appreciate the decisions I make regarding their futures,” Tedrick said.
“Don't be naive enough to think that disgruntled people don't carry weapons into courtrooms with them,” Tedrick warned.
“The first year that metal detectors were installed in the Tacoma and Seattle municipal courts, security people confiscated hundreds of firearms and thousands of knives, brass knuckles and various and sundry other weapons. And these people were heading into a courtroom.”
Metal detectors have become so commonplace among courthouses in King and Pierce counties, that Buckley's lack of courtroom security is the exception, not the rule, Tedrick said.
Council members also learned of new developments in the Buckley Police Department.
The first of these was the start of a canine unit or drug dog program, which one of the city's newest officers, Adam Garrett, will eventually lead. As the dog's future keeper, Garrett predicts the program has the potential to pay its own way.
Garrett will attend a six-week training program in early March at McNeil Island at a projected cost of $1,180 to the city, in addition to Garrett's regular salary during this time. This cost includes $500 administrative fee, $500 for assorted equipment and a pro-rated fee for secure parking at the boat dock on the mainland across from McNeil Island.
Garrett has put his heart and soul into the initiation of this program, according to Buckley Police Chief Jim Arsanto. The chief said the start-up costs for such a program are around $5,000 to get the program off the ground and about $2,000 a year after that, for the dog's veterinary care, food and the special platform which will be installed in a police cruiser.
However, any money, vehicles or other incidental property, that would be seized or confiscated as a byproduct of any drug raids or arrests, would be funneled directly into a “Fund 109 Drug Seizure Account,” which could in turn be used for care of the animal or any other programs associated with narcotics.
One example used by Garrett was doing educational drug seminars or presentations in the local school districts to enlighten students as to the benefits and interesting aspects of the canine unit, which hasn't existed in this area for quite some time.
Another nuance coming out of the police department was the fact that it applied for and received $62,000 with which to upgrade its record management systems to a state-of-the-art 911 and business line system.
The city council also moved to approve the installation of two picnic table sun covers in the Buckley park at the cost of $1,482.60 each. This price includes a 10' x 14' canopy, with an eight foot entry height and a wind resistant stability guarantee up to 90 mph.
John Leggett can be reached at jleggett@courierherald.com
