Sheriff Tom Knight's courthouse security policy: Legal gunbattle brewing

[Unregistered]

Author: Lee Williams

Snip: Senator Greg Steube was denied entry into the Sarasota County Clerk of Court building by a guard and a Sarasota deputy because he was carrying a weapon, he wrote to Sheriff Tom Knight in an email.

Steube wrote, "I informed the guard I was licensed to carry," citing Florida Statute 790.06, explaining that government buildings are not gun free zones.

Steube wrote, "Deputy Jovan Djokic's rude response was that if I had a problem with it, to take it up with Sheriff Tom Knight."

Chief Deputy Col. Kurt Hoffman recommends:
- Remove security from the Clerk of Courts Office (2000 Main St).
- Reevaluating security at the R.L. Anderson courthouse (Venice, 4000 S. Tamiami Trl).

Hoffman issued a legal opinion that the Sarasota Sheriff's Office's is "exposed to liability for restricting suspicion-less movement of people entering public buildings by restricting their firearm rights." Hoffman also said that canceling security would save money.

Knight concurred with Hoffman's findings and sent his assistant general counsel, Crystal Hansen, to meet with the circuit's chief judge.

Karen Rushing believes that...

Full story:
http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20...wmaker-objects

[gumshoe legal analysis]

In the email that Hoffman sent Knight, Hoffman said that he used the Merriam Dictionary (and not Black’s Law Dictionary) to determine what a courthouse is and what the functions are. Seriously? With that kind of gumshoe legal analysis, Knight should be scared. And Hoffman needs to get a refund from the law school that graduated him. Knight should not be using Hoffman’s legal analysis for important Constitutional decisions. It’s dangerous for everyone involved.

[Unregistered]

Chief Deputy Col. Kurt Hoffman recommends removing security from the Clerk of Courts Office (2000 Main St).

Hoffman issued a legal opinion that the Sarasota Sheriff's Office's is "exposed to liability for restricting suspicion-less movement of people entering public buildings by restricting their firearm rights." Hoffman also said that canceling security would save money.

Knight concurred with Hoffman's findings and sent his assistant general counsel, Crystal Hansen, to meet with the circuit's chief judge.

Knight has already removed bailiffs/deputies from the Clerk of the Court building. It’s done! However, by pulling deputies out of the Clerk of the Court building, Knight obviously made a premature and uninformed legal decision. You will have to wait and see what Knight’s next major decision will be because it’s coming in the near future.

Steube has proposed a new law that will allow CCW permit holders to legally enter courthouses with their guns, but that is only a proposal and it won’t pass. Even municipal officers (SPD, VPD, NPPD, etc) are required to disarm before entering our courthouse, but that’s a different story (only bailiffs are allowed to be armed). If Knight was to be a hero, then he can lobby for officers to be armed in court, but he won’t do that because he doesn’t care about it.

[Unregistered]

Knight has already removed bailiffs/deputies from the Clerk of the Court building. It’s done! However, by pulling deputies out of the Clerk of the Court building, Knight obviously made a premature and uninformed legal decision. You will have to wait and see what Knight’s next major decision will be because it’s coming in the near future

Are any other sheriffs from any other Florida counties "abandoning security checkpoints" at Clerk of Court buildings? Or are Knight and Hoffman the only clowns in Florida who are trying to pull-off this circus act?

[Unregistered]

Are any other sheriffs from any other Florida counties "abandoning security checkpoints" at Clerk of Court buildings? Or are Knight and Hoffman the only clowns in Florida who are trying to pull-off this circus act?

For the 12th Judicial Circuit, Knight is the only elected sheriff to completely abandon security at Clerk of Court buildings. MSO still has their security checkpoint operating in their historical building because it is still designated as a courthouse (for the Clerk of Court).

It is irresponsible of Knight to leave Sarasota Clerk of Court facilities completely unsecured and now it has become a high liability issue for the Sarasota Sheriff's Office. Knight has abdicated his legal responsibilities (if not his mind), based on idiotic legal mumbo jumbo from Kurt Hoffman (who by the way has his own documented issues with moral character).

Knight and Hoffman need explicit black and white instructions (like in a coloring book) on how to run the agency because they have no common sense. NO OTHER SHERIFF HAS DONE OR IS DOING WHAT THEY ARE DOING. That should be a very important clue right there.

At least the media isn't zeroing-in on this incompetence. Whew!!!!

[NOT Caroline Zucker]

For the 12th Judicial Circuit, Knight is the only elected sheriff to completely abandon security at Clerk of Court buildings. MSO still has their security checkpoint operating in their historical building because it is still designated as a courthouse (for the Clerk of Court).

It is irresponsible of Knight to leave Sarasota Clerk of Court facilities completely unsecured and now it has become a high liability issue for the Sarasota Sheriff's Office. Knight has abdicated his legal responsibilities (if not his mind), based on idiotic legal mumbo jumbo from Kurt Hoffman (who by the way has his own documented issues with moral character).

Knight and Hoffman need explicit black and white instructions (like in a coloring book) on how to run the agency because they have no common sense. NO OTHER SHERIFF HAS DONE OR IS DOING WHAT THEY ARE DOING. That should be a very important clue right there.

Before you say all that, let's see if Knight can get away with it. It was definitely strange or irresponsible of him not to seek legal counsel, before taking such drastic actions. But let's wait and watch and see what unfolds next -- if anything.

[Unregistered]

Hoffman also said that canceling security would save money.

Ah the real reasons comes out! Sarasota County Commissioner Nancy Detert told Knight to cut a million from the budget. LOL

[legal beagel]

In the email that Hoffman sent Knight, Hoffman said that he used the Merriam Dictionary (and not Black’s Law Dictionary) to determine what a courthouse is and what the functions are. Seriously? With that kind of gumshoe legal analysis, Knight should be scared. And Hoffman needs to get a refund from the law school that graduated him. Knight should not be using Hoffman’s legal analysis for important Constitutional decisions. It’s dangerous for everyone involved.

Knight should have pursued outside legal consultation before abandoning courthouse responsibilities. Knight walked away from his legal responsibilities. Historically, sheriffs have always provided courthouse security (and not municipal police officers). This is a no brainer.

Knight has already removed bailiffs/deputies from the Clerk of the Court building. It’s done! However, by pulling deputies out of the Clerk of the Court building, Knight obviously made a premature and uninformed legal decision.

Here is a simple question: as an elected sheriff, does Knight have the legal authority to simply abandon courthouse security?

[Unregistered]

Knight should have pursued outside legal consultation before abandoning courthouse responsibilities. Knight walked away from his legal responsibilities. Historically, sheriffs have always provided courthouse security (and not municipal police officers). This is a no brainer.

Here is a simple question: as an elected sheriff, does Knight have the legal authority to simply abandon courthouse security?

The elected sheriff cannot be told what to do or how to do it. Sheriff Tom Knight calls all the shots because he is the chief law enforcement of the county (and the city) and no one has higher authority than him, except for the Florida governor – and you don’t see the governor getting involved in this, do you?

[Unregistered]

The elected sheriff cannot be told what to do or how to do it. Sheriff Tom Knight calls all the shots because he is the chief law enforcement of the county (and the city) and no one has higher authority than him, except for the Florida governor – and you don’t see the governor getting involved in this, do you?

If Knight is abandoning his legal responsibilities as sheriff, then that’s “dereliction of duty” and Governor Scott should most certainly be involved. The governor can temporarily remove him from office until this is sorted out.