DRYDEN — Significant steps have been taken throughout the province to address courthouse security concerns in rural and remote communities.
These steps followed an incident at a satellite court last summer when an OPP officer shot and killed 23-year-old Tyresse Roundsky in a Wapekeka courtroom.
Dryden lawyer Karen Seeley said the new measures, which include “wanding” with handheld metal detectors, are very much related to the shooting.
“Courthouse security has been an issue, not just as a result of Wapekeka but elsewhere as well,” Seeley said. “The province is taking steps across the province to address this and looking at single points of entries to courthouses, security, bringing in bag scanners, so those aren’t in all courthouses yet.”
Seeley said she sometimes travels to remote communities for her work, but had never had concerns before she learned about the shooting last summer.
“Wapekeka was very shocking and unexpected. I’ve never felt unsafe in any of the courthouses I’ve been at, including all of our fly-in First Nations.”
She added that she’s “not concerned about more work going forward. I know that the government has their plan and they’re absolutely making efforts.
“And you know they have very clear plans, but I’m not concerned about the level of security we’ve seen at the courthouses I attend.”
The OPP have confirmed that they have implemented enhanced safety measures.
In a statement from superintendent Kirsten Clarke, she said “the OPP take safety and security in our communities very seriously.”
Security enhancements affect premises that serve dual purposes in smaller communities, such as a community centre or other building such as the Legion that is used for bi-monthly court proceedings in Rainy River.
Further enhancements, Clarke said, include a single entrance established for members of the public accessing the courthouse or any premise where court proceedings are conducted.
As well, Clarke said that active screening using metal detectors or security wands for anyone attending the courthouse, or any premise where court proceedings are conducted are utilized.
And there is to be a security presence on every floor of a courthouse, or any premise where court proceedings are conducted, with armed officers readily available to respond, when necessary.
“We can confirm that we have enhanced security in all court facilities under our jurisdiction to ensure the safety of participants and the integrity of the justice system, including satellite courts in Northern Ontario,” Clarke said.
“Everyone who enters a courthouse, whether to preside, advocate, provide services, observe or appear before the court – voluntarily or under order – is entitled to feel safe in that environment.”
