BAY MINETTE - Eleven defibrillators are now in place in all county courthouses and key law enforcement sites as part of an upgrade in safety and welfare for the heavily used facilities, according to Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack.

Mack said he used $20,000 in discretionary funds to purchase the devices for the Bay Minette Courthouse, satellite courthouses in Foley and Fairhope, sheriff’s offices in Bay Minette and Robertsdale, the SWAT team truck and the firing range in Stapleton.

Mack said the units were purchased after January meetings with district and circuit judges concerning courthouse safety and security.

“The sheriff’s constitutional responsibilities include maintaining security at the courthouses and that includes the well being of citizens,” Mack said. “If we save one life, it’s worth the cost.

“We have not had to use them yet, but we have had two or three people who suffered heat exhaustion over the last year and one died.”

“We are the first responders because we are there. This is a way to save lives.”

More than a million people have used the courthouses during the past three years and the numbers will increase as the county population continues to grow.

The busiest courthouse is the Bay Minette facility where hundreds of citizens arrive for the first day of jury terms. Mack said as many as 200 people may be in line at 8 a.m. awaiting clearance to enter the courthouse.

“It’s crowded and if you make a 911 call, the paramedics’ response time is delayed by the crowd,” Mack said. “Statistically, a person has a much better chance of survival if they can be helped within minutes.”

Each judge has a “duress button” at their bench which is pushed in case of a disturbance in court or any other matter that requires security assistance.

“Sometimes, the defendant is the calmest person in a courtroom, especially if they are career criminals,” Mack said. “But some jurors get scared serving on a panel and many are uncomfortable about sitting in judgement of others.

“The courthouse can be a very stressful place.”

Officers now automatically transport the 10-pound device when summoned. Sgt. Gregory Daniels, chief of courthouse security, said the response time is about 15 seconds from the front entrance where the unit is stationed to the most distant courtroom.

Security officers have received CPR training and additional instruction from contract nurses at Baldwin County Corrections Center, Mack said.

When the device is opened, recorded voice instructions begin. Electrodes are placed on the upper left and lower right chest area of the victim. The device monitors vital signs and determines if a shock is necessary.

“The machine will not issue a shock unless it is necessary,” Mack said.

Mack said plans include a separate entrance at the Bay Minette Courthouse for a first-aid station and faster access by paramedics.

Additional units are being planned for patrol vehicles, which predominantly cruise rural areas. Mack said the devices may be especially useful in the sparsely populated area north of I-65 which has a longer response time for paramedics.

“It may be more applicable for the sheriff’s department than the police because we cover rural area and are often the first responders,” Mack said.

“The cities have fire departments and paramedics.”