Those who may be planning on stirring up trouble at the Decatur County Courthouse may want to rethink their actions.

A new security officer position has been created by the Decatur County Sheriff’s Department, and chosen to fill that spot was Greensburg resident Tony Blodgett.

Blodgett has a wealth of experience in the area of security. He did 10 years of active duty in the United States Air Force before beginning work for the Delaware Department of Corrections. Preceding that, he was engaged in civil service with the Air Force.

Blodgett grew up in Greensburg, and both his father Dennis and brother Eric are police officers for the GPD.

“We’ve been around for a long time,” Blodgett said.

According to Sheriff Daryl Templeton, Blodgett’s duties will be performed within the confines of the courthouse property. The position is full-time, and the new officer will report to the Sheriff’s Department, since the department is responsible for the courthouse. Blodgett will patrol the halls and the grounds of the courthouse, as well as attending some court sessions.

His primary duties will be to provide security and protection for the commissioners, judges, councilors and employees at the courthouse.

“This is a first for Decatur County,” Templeton explained. “It’s going to be a learning experience for everybody.”

Blodgett’s presence in the courthouse is not likely to affect the day-to-day activities of employees or those who visit the courthouse. In some cases, however, the new officer will be using a metal detector for those coming into the building. Judge John Westhafer presented Blodgett with the metal detecting wand.

“Compliments of Homeland Security,” he said. “There will be a time when you need one.”

According to Chief Deputy Darin Lucas and Templeton, Blodgett will be a full sheriff’s deputy. The only difference being his singular focus on the courthouse.

“It’s a different uniform, same powers,” Lucas said.

Blodgett finished his training last week and has already begun patroling the hallways. However, the new security officer position has been a long time coming.

Westhafer said he had been talking to the county commissioners about security for several years. A U.S. Marshall’s assessment a few years ago recommended stronger surveillance equipment, but the plan ultimately culminated with a subsitution for a phsyical presence in the courthouse.

Westhafer was confident that the new appointment would make a real difference. There had been numerous incidences and volatile situations that required the remedy of security intervention at the courthouse.