Court Security & Bailiffs
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Superior Courts to provide security services in all Courtrooms in El Dorado County.
This service includes security for one court house in South Lake Tahoe and four court houses on the
West Slope of the Sierras. There are a total of
nine Deputy Sheriffs providing security as
Bailiffs, ten Sheriff’s Security Officers working
security check points, and two Sheriff’s
Sergeants supervising the operations.
Court Security is responsible for maintaining
order within the court room while protecting
judges, jurors, personnel, spectators, plaintiffs,
and defendants. This is a true representation of
the Sheriff’s “Total Care” approach to the
community.
When threats are directed toward Court
Personnel or a Judge, it is Court Security’s
responsibility to provide extra protection, notify
allied agencies, and spearhead the investigation
into the matter.
Other functions of Court Security are keeping disruptions in court to a minimum, maintaining order in the court, announcing the judge’s presence, calling witnesses to the stand, and keeping the jury and spectators informed of the
court’s status. Court Security screens individuals
and their belongings at security check points to
prevent unauthorized firearms, weapons, and contraband into the facilities.
Court Security ensures the security of the
facilities both inside and outside the court
houses at the start of business each day. Bailiffs
and Sheriff’s Security Officers go through
extensive training to maintain their skills for the
task they have at hand. They qualify quarterly
with firearms, and attend annual perishable
skills/defensive tactics trainings.
In July of 2017 a Sheriff's Security Officer was
working at the security check point during a very
busy morning with dozens of people going
through and standing by in the lobby. A pregnant
female who had a court appearance that morning
sent her purse through the X-ray machine. The
Sheriff’s Security Officer noticed what he
believed to be a meth pipe in the purse. The purse
was searched and the meth pipe, along with
syringes loaded with heroin was located inside.
The female was detained, and ultimately cited
and released for possession of paraphernalia,
and for possession of a controlled substance.
This was all completed in time for her to make
her appearance on a prior criminal charge. It is
the professionalism and attention to these types
of detail that creates a safe environment for
Court operations.
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