Departments

Emergency Services

Security Division

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines Security in many different ways. The primary way would be freedom from risk or danger. Secondary definitions include; safety, freedom from doubt, anxiety, fear and confidence.

Mission:
The mission of the Bucks County Emergency Services-Security Division is to provide a safe and secure environment for county employees and visitors.

Department Overview:
In an effort to complete our mission the Bucks County Emergency Services-Security Division is divided into two major sections. These sections are the Courthouse Complex and Neshaminy Manor Complex. The Children and Youth Office is covered by officers from the Neshaminy Manor section. The Domestic Relations Offices are covered by officers from the Courthouse section.

The Bucks County Emergency Services - Security Division is currently staffed with twenty seven full time officers and ten per diem civilians. The full time staff includes the Director, the Lieutenant, two Sergeants and twenty three patrol officers. The per diem staff duties are limited to covering the screening stations with a full time officer. Security is a twenty four hour department. Persons entering the main Court and Administration Building at 55 East Court Street Doylestown, PA or the Domestic Relations Section at 30 East Court Street Doylestown, PA must go through a security screening process.

This screening involves the individual passing through a metal detector and having any package, parcel, purse, hand bag or other container put through an x-ray machine. No firearm or weapons of any kind are allowed to be brought into the courthouse. A clearly posted sign at each entrance of the respective buildings warns people about to enter that they are subject to search and defines the more common weapons. Some common items that are not allowed in the controlled access buildings are firearms of any type, knives, scissors, razors, tools, explosives, many pointed objects and any item which is considered illegal or contraband by separate statute. (In way of explanation; all knives such as the little inch and a half pocket knives or fingernail knives or novelty knives are considered knives for this purpose and are not allowed in the building. Scissors are considered weapons even if they are cuticle scissors or sewing scissors or hair cutting scissors or utility scissors.)

The Bucks County Emergency Services -Security Division does not hold disallowed items. Persons who are in possession of any disallowed items will be asked to take the item back to their vehicle or surrender and forfeit the item.

In addition to staffing the security screening stations the department also patrols the interior and exterior of the county buildings and grounds. The department provides Emergency Medical care for medical problems that occur within our jurisdiction. Bucks County Emergency Services Security personnel are required to be certified annually in CPR and First Aid. Officers can begin emergency care and continue until an ambulance arrives. The ambulance crew can then be briefed regarding the patient condition. Several officers have been First Responder certified through Emergency Health Services. The Lieutenant and a sergeant are certified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT). Courthouse Security also has portable AED machines for cardiac emergencies.