LEWISTON, Idaho (AP) -- Two bailiffs at the Nez Perce County Courthouse will be replaced with three armed deputies as the facility upgrades its security.
The Lewiston Tribune reported that Sheriff Joe Rodriguez says that the change comes after discussion with judges who have asked for years for increased security has the prevalence of violence or threats of violence against public employees rose across the country.
He says the bailiffs, who have a combined 43 years of experience at the courthouse, were no longer certified to carry firearms inside the facility.
In Idaho, weapons are off-limits in courtrooms, but individual judges have the discretion to allow law enforcement to carry firearms in the courtroom.
