Carbon approves bullet-resistant panels for courtrooms

Carbon County’s district judges’ courtrooms and county courtrooms 1 and 2, are getting a little extra protection.

On Thursday, the county commissioners approved a quote from Clear Security Systems of West Caldwell, New Jersey, for the installation of bullet-resistant paneling on the judges’ benches in the magistrate office courtrooms and two of the courtrooms in the Court of Common Pleas.

The project is estimated to cost $17,940 and will be covered by a $20,000 Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts Security Project grant.

Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard said these panels may not be needed for District Judge Joseph Homanko’s courtroom in Weatherly due to the borough building project that will move Homanko’s courtroom into that building.

In June 2018, the county installed bullet resistant glass at District Judges Casimir Kosciolek’s, William Kissner’s and Eric Schrantz’s offices as part of its security upgrade project.

Carbon County has been working to upgrade its security over the past few years, adding a security gate next to the courthouse, bullet-resistant material in the courthouse annex and metal detector upgrades in the courthouse, as well as the installation of a metal detector in the annex.