More requests for JP office security upgrades
Justices of the peace have been asking for more security for their offices from the county recently. A shooting outside one office last month may be ramping up the pressure on commissioners to take action.
The county has been dealing with more requests for upgrades like cameras and bullet-proof glass from JP offices. But neither commissioners nor the JPs requesting the security have been willing to talk about what’s driving the sudden demand.
ABC-7 has learned that a man shot and killed himself outside the precinct 6 place 1 JP office in Clint Feb. 12. Since then, more requests and questions from other JP offices have been coming into the county.
County officials haven’t been willing to talk about why the need exists, even with two new requests coming in Monday’s commissioner court meeting.
The constable for precinct 6 Javier Garcia said that while concerning, the suicide there didn’t put anyone in danger.
“No one from the general public was ever in danger,” Garcia said. “And no one from the JP office was ever in danger. The incident occurred after hours, I believe about 5:40 pm, when the incident took place.”
The county did approve most of the requested security features Monday, except for the bullet-proof glass. The county’s chief administrator is looking into what it will take, and where funding could come from for that project.
