Luzerne County Government

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.com
Luzerne County Reporter
Jennifer Learn-Andes on Facebook   |   @TLJenLearnAndes on Twitter

Luzerne County Controller Walter Griffith said he received a complaint from a sheriff’s office employee that a former worker still has a security badge to access the building after hours.

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Griffith

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Petrilla

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Griffith said he was also surprised to learn some members of the media have security badges, and he is urging the administration to ensure badges are stripped from non-employees.

The cards allow holders to bypass metal detectors and, depending on the level of security clearance, provide access to parts of the courthouse that are not open to the public.

The subject of badges came up last fall when commissioners learned Barton Weidlich, a contractor who had a 1996 drug conviction in New Jersey, was given a security card that gave him 24-hour access to the courthouse. Weidlich, who was charged by federal authorities with threatening a witness in the county corruption probe, was given the card because his company, JPW Construction Management, was working on several projects within the courthouse, county officials said.

Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla said Tuesday the security department was supposed to deactivate all badges that had been issued to non-employees.

“I was under the impression that only county employees would have badges. The situation was addressed, and we’ll broach it again,” Petrilla said.

She said she also questions why a non-employee would be in the sheriff’s office after hours.

Acting Sheriff Charles Guarnieri said he did not know a non-employee had a security badge, and he will seize the badge if he verifies the claim is true. He said the former worker in question sometimes stops by to visit former co-workers.

Petrilla said department heads and row officers are responsible for notifying security if someone doesn’t turn in his or her badge upon termination, resignation or furlough.

Security cards are supposed to be issued only to county employees who undergo a criminal background check before they’re hired, she said.

Griffith said commissioners should put a policy in writing so there is no question what procedure must be enforced.