Security changes appear unlikely
A meeting Wednesday to discuss courthouse security with Sheriff Gary Brownfield in the wake of an investigation into a computer being taken from the office of the Fayette County controller was informative but the incident will not likely lead to any policy changes, according to Fayette County Commission Chairman Vincent Zapotosky. Zapotosky, who requested the meeting, said it was determined that what occurred was an “isolated incident” and not likely to be repeated. Zapotosky said any policy regarding prohibiting employees to take county property off site was determined to be too restrictive because it would be difficult to determine exactly what constitutes county property.
However, Zapotosky said the policies of other counties would be examined to decide if anything would be done in the future.
Zapotosky said as an example that cellular telephones or even pencils could be determined to be county property.
The meeting was a result of an incident in which former Controller Mark Roberts took a computer home to have it repaired after it crashed.
District Attorney Nancy D. Vernon previously said there is no evidence of wrongdoing in the removal of one computer and examination of two others from the county controller’s office. The investigation started when Roberts removed a computer after its hard drive crashed. The computer was removed two days before Roberts was to leave office. Roberts, in office for two terms, lost his re-election bid to Sean P. Lally last year.
Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites said the meeting was informative.
The computer was taken from the courthouse on the Friday that Lally and the other county officials were sworn in, but they did not officially take office until the following Monday.
Commissioner Angela M. Zimmerlink previously said that while determining criminality is Vernon’s job, the commissioners are the stewards of county property.
“It is most difficult to carry out that role without the support and action from others,” Zimmerlink said. “The county has written policies in place, but just as with other written county policies and ordinances, words mean nothing if enforcement is ignored.”
Zimmerlink said she wanted Brownfield take possession of the computers in question so that Lally could decide what to do with them. That would have benefited both Roberts and Lally, she said.
Brownfield said previously that his solicitor advised against taking the computer.
Brownfield is in charge of courthouse security. Last year, he enacted a policy that nearly all employees must enter the courthouse through the front door on Main Street, where an X-ray machine and metal detector are located, instead of accessing the basement door that was known as the employee entrance.
The former board of county commissioners, as well as President Judge Conrad B. Capuzzi, approved the change.
Brownfield previously said the change occurred after there were numerous reports of non-employees entering the courthouse when employees let them in. He previously said the courthouse had one of the most secure systems in the state, but over time it was not so secure. The employee entrance, which includes a hand scanner, was often abused by employees who let others in, as well as by employees who let unauthorized people go outside to smoke, Brownfield said.