For the second time this year, Portsmouth Sheriff Bill Watson has threatened action in the city in a dispute over compensation. Earlier this year, Watson threatened to suspend services provided by inmate work crews unless his deputies received raises. This time, Watson says he will keep his deputies from providing courthouse security.
“Jan. 4, they better have some security,” Watson said, “or people will walk through that courthouse like it was Central Park.”
The issue is state budget cuts, which are causing Watson to have to lay off 11 employees. Portsmouth has agreed to fund half of the amount cut by the state, but that is not enough for Watson.
“I have to cut positions somewhere,” he said. “The freebie is over.”
[…]
Watson says state law requires him only to operate a jail, serve legal papers and provide security inside courtrooms.
Methinks Mr. Watson is wrong.
I can only assume that Watson is reading § 15.2-1609 of the Virginia code, which says, in part:
The sheriff shall exercise all the powers conferred and perform all the duties imposed upon sheriffs by general law. He shall enforce the law or see that it is enforced in the locality from which he is elected; assist in the judicial process as provided by general law; and be charged with the custody, feeding and care of all prisoners confined in the county or city jail. He may perform such other duties, not inconsistent with his office, as may be requested of him by the governing body.
The Virginia Compensation Board puts out a Policy & Procedure Manual for sheriffs (pdf). On page 3, it says:
All Virginia Sheriffs provide security in local courthouses, serve legal papers throughout their jurisdictions, summon jurors and witnesses, and execute upon court judgments.
And if that weren’t enough, the law appears to be quite clear: according to § 53.1-120 of the Virginia code, sheriffs are responsible for courtrooms and the courthouses.
§ 53.1-120. Sheriff to provide for courthouse and courtroom security; designation of deputies for such purpose; assessment.
A. Each sheriff shall ensure that the courthouses and courtrooms within his jurisdiction are secure from violence and disruption and shall designate deputies for this purpose. A list of such designations shall be forwarded to the Director of the Department of Criminal Justice Services.
I’m thinking that perhaps Watson simply doesn’t know what the duties are. (Of course, we’ve seen that before.) I suspect, though, that the judges do and Watson is in for a rude awakening.
UPDATE: The Pilot editorial board weighs in on this with Tuesday’s editorial, “Sheriff cries ‘wolf’ one more time“
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
It’s not a bad idea though, since much of what local sheriff’s departments spend on courthouse security and a majority of what the state spends on the ridiculous post-9/11 level of secrurity on Capitol Square is just wasted money.
I had jury duty last month. There’s one entrance to the courthouse, with one or two deputies stationed at the entrance, depending on how busy things are. I did see some other deputies in the courthouse hallways, but I don’t know how many were just moving around versus being assigned to courtrooms. It’s not like it’s half the force or anything. (I think there are about 500 employees in the Norfolk sheriff’s office.)
Agreed, Vivian.
A good judge would issue a contempt citation and Mr. Watson would change his mind quickly from inside his own facility.
Now that would be worth the price of admission 😉
Another law enforcement officer acting a whole lot like a common criminal? Shocked, I tell you. This clown should be bounced from office. If he wants to make a living from extortion, he should at least do it honestly, instead of from behind a badge.