Dear Editor,
As Sheriff of Santa Rosa County, it is my responsibility to provide security not only for the judges, but also to everyone that comes to the courthouse. In the past 16 months 161,934 citizens have used the Santa Rosa County Courthouse; 157,790 individuals were screened through the front door; 4,144 inmates were transported from our jail to the courthouse. The size and current condition of the courthouse that was built in 1927 makes this very difficult. There is only one elevator and a very narrow hallway, and having visitors, suspects and inmates all in these small areas makes for a dangerous situation. We need a new courthouse very badly.
I, also, would like the courthouse to be built at a location that is best for our citizens. The distance from the jail is not the important issue, because only 2.56 percent of the total visitors to the courthouse were inmates from our jail. We need a location with ample parking and room for expansion in the future.
Remember this courthouse will be serving our county for the next 50 to 75 years. We need to put our personal interest aside and do what is best for our county as a whole.
Sheriff Wendell Hall
Milton
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Courthouse should be placed with citizens in mind