Visitors to the Cass County Courthouse in Atlantic will be limited to one point of entry in the near future. Cass County Sheriff Darby McLaren asked the Board of Supervisors about courthouse security during their meeting this (Wednesday) morning. Supervisor Gaylord Schelling said the same matter came up during a recent meeting of the Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC). Schelling said at the ISAC meeting, it was suggested courthouses be limited to one access point for the public, so the areas where a potential active shooter can enter is limited and easily observable.

The Board, Sheriff, and Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon agreed the best plan is to make the rear double-doors to the courthouse as the only access point. All other doors will be locked, and signs will be posted on those no-access doors to alert the public. The two, south entrance doors are visible from a security camera that’s monitored in the Communications Center.

As part of an “Active Shooter” scenario designed to alert courthouse staff to the sound of gunshots on each level of the building, Supervisor Gaylord Schelling went to each floor and fired a “Starter’s Pistol,” that replicated that type of situation. He fired one shot on each floor Wednesday morning, beginning with the third floor.
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The sound was clearly audible on the second floor. Another shot was fired on the second floor, where the courtroom and other legal offices are located. The third shot was fired on the Main floor, where the Auditor, Treasurer, Recorder and Clerk of Courts offices are found. Regardless of where the shot rang out, it clearly echoed throughout the building. Other measures will be taken to ensure the safety of courthouse personnel, such as reinforcing some offices and the use of “Safe Rooms,” some of which are already available.