Courthouse beefs up security

Thursday, September 15, 2016
Taking the oath of office from Sheriff Scott Stockton (right), new bailiffs (from left) Mark Witt and Robert Boyd and probation field officers Garret Nichols are officially deputized as part of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department. The addition of the three officers brings the normal security force at the Putnam County Courthouse to five officers.
Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN

Two years of discussions and planning officially came to fruition Thursday morning when Sheriff Scott Stockton swore in three new officers to provide added security at the Putnam County Courthouse.

The additions of bailiffs Mark Witt and Robert Boyd, along with probation field officer Garret Nichols, bring the number of officers regularly providing security at the courthouse up from two to five.

The trio joins PCSD Capt. Steve Fenwick and courthouse security officer Jerry Campbell, who already provide security on a daily basis.

The bailiffs in particular bring an added level of protection for the court rooms and offices of Putnam Circuit Court and Putnam Superior Court.

They are in place after multiple requests from Circuit Court Judge Matt Headley and Superior Court Judge Denny Bridges to the Putnam County Commissioners and Putnam County Council that additional security be added.

"This is the initial phase of helping to make the courthouse secure for the public and the people who work here," Chief Deputy Phil Parker said. "We now have five officers here on a daily basis who can respond to anything that happens."

The fifth officer comes in the form of Nichols, who can now assist the other officers when needed in addition to his duties as a probation field officer.

Sheriff Stockton said the arresting authority that Nichols now has should also be a benefit to the adult probation department.

"Now the words going to get out they have someone who can make arrests," Stockton said.

Adult Probation Officer Teresa Parrish considers it a welcome addition to the department.

"I'm just very, very happy with it," Parrish said. "I think the sheriff has done a great job."

Nichols is a Putnam County native and South Putnam graduate.

After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he spent 15 years in Africa as the director of an organization that rescued trafficked children.

He and wife Kelly have three daughters and a son.

"I'm very honored to be serving Putnam County, where I was born and raised," Nichols said.

Besides his new duties in the county, Witt remains a staff sergeant in the Army National Guard as a 42A human resource specialist.

He spent 11 years on active duty, doing tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The North Putnam graduate and wife Nicole have two children.

Boyd also remains in the National Guard as a sergeant first class, serving as a platoon sergeant for Alpha Company of the 151st Infantry, based out of Linton.

A graduate of Loogootee High School, he now lives in Putnamville with wife Brittney and their two children.

The military past of all three men was not lost on Witt.

"We all went and defended our country and now we're defending our county," he said.

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  • Best additions to the county/courthouse staff! Caring, devoted and always helpful.

    -- Posted by kbmom on Fri, Sep 16, 2016, at 6:45 AM
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