Kane County ratchets ups courthouse security

Security officers must screen every regular joe who enters the Kane County Judicial Center in St. Charles.

But officials have stepped up checks on the courthouse’s mainstays, too: attorneys, armed officers and those with security passes.

Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez said he and the Robert Spence, the new chief judge, are trying to be more vigilant and the increased security — which will continue indefinitely — was not due to a specific incident or threat.

“It’s just being a little more proactive, that’s all. As far as I know, we’re going to keep this going,” Perez said. “We’ve got so many attorneys that come from other counties that we don’t really know.”

Perez said security is making every fifth person with a court badge or Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission card go through metal detectors and have their belongings searched.

The shift began earlier in the week; normally those with passes can walk right through a separate line.

Spence, who took over as chief judge of the 16th Judicial Circuit earlier this month, could not be reached for comment Friday.

Perez said one of his lieutenants who was in full uniform was screened as he entered the courthouse for a foreclosure case.

“(Kane County State’s Attorney) Joe McMahon even got screened the other day and he had no objections to it. He said he understood,” Perez said.