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Town of Delaware talks justice court security

Fred Stabbert III - Publisher
Posted 6/14/19

HORTONVILLE - Is the Town of Delaware Justice Court secure?

Will the two elected judges in the township be allowed to legally carry their firearm in court?

Who has the passcode to the …

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Town of Delaware talks justice court security

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HORTONVILLE - Is the Town of Delaware Justice Court secure?

Will the two elected judges in the township be allowed to legally carry their firearm in court?

Who has the passcode to the security system?

These were just some of the questions and concerns brought to the Delaware Town Board on Wednesday evening by Judge Charles A. Nystrom, who is in his fourth year serving the residents of the township.

“In regards to the current alarm system and security issues, the Judges have made several verbal complaints to the town officers regarding courtroom doors being found unlocked, the security system being left off, and the alarm going off with no accounting of who or what was responsible,” Nystrom said. “This is our justification for the exterior security cameras being requested.”

Nystrom said that when a breach to the security system happens, a Town Judge - himself or his father, Eric Nystrom - is notified and oftentimes have to go to the court building to work with law enforcement to turn off the alarm.

The elder Nystrom did not attend Wednesday's meeting.

“I've requested the access code [from the security company] but I'm not authorized,” Nystrom said. “Who is authorized to get that code? One of the town officials has the authority to get the codes.”

Supervisor Ed Sykes was equally as frustrated with the security system.

“They [the security company] won't give it to me either,” he said. “This has been an issue for eight years.”

That leaves Nystrom in a precarious position as he and the other judge are responsible for the court records kept on a computer in the Justice Court.

He said every time there is a breach he has to call Albany to have them check the computer to make sure official court records have not been tampered with.

“Let's handle that password issue, it's really important to me, especially at 2 ‘clock in the morning,” Nystrom said.

Security Cameras

The Town Judges have been requesting the town apply for a Justice Court Assistance Program grant to put lights and a security camera on the outside of the court building [which also doubles as the meeting room for the Town of Delaware board].

Nystrom believes the cameras and lights will help identify who is leaving the court unlocked or who has breached the system.

Nystrom wondered who left the court open during the Hortonville Field Day so patrons could use the bathroom.

“That was a big breach of security,” Nystrom said.

“I didn't do it,” Sykes said. Sykes also questioned how important it was to identify who left the door open.

Firearm Policy

Nystrom also explained how the court is handling an increased load of felony cases, increasing from 13 felony cases in 2017 to 57 felony cases last year.

He requested the town amend its Employee Handbook to allow the judges to carry their legal handgun.

“We have a no firearm policy on town property for town employees,” Sykes said.

Town attorney Ken Klein said, “You [the town board] could make an exception by amending the policy to allow judges to carry firearms.”

Klein said he would contact the New York Assn. of Towns to see what they say.

Councilman Alfred Stepphich, who said he had a pistol permit and could legally carry a firearm said, “I don't like it [the no firearm policy]

“It took 45 minutes for the Sheriff to get here after they were called - everybody could have been shot.”

Nystrom said, “The judges are not requesting a security officer at the rate of $25 per hour. We are requesting that a revision or amendment be made to the Town's Employee Handbook which we believe is an infringement on our Second Amendment rights.”

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