PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia judges concerned about security lapses at city courthouses have ordered the sheriff to address what they call a rising number of assaults, threats and staffing shortages that lead to court delays.
The judges, in a court order published this week, say the sheriff’s “systemic failures” to staff the criminal courthouse, family law center, City Hall courtrooms and other sites pose an “imminent threat” to public safety. They tracked 72 security incidents in Philadelphia courts last year and expect to end this year with even more. By comparison, there were 25 security incidents reported in 2019 under a predecessor, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
In one alarming incident caught on video in February, two men brawled in a hallway at Philadelphia Family Court while another man was on the floor, seemingly unconscious, and a lone security officer tried to regain control.
Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal has said the staffing problem is part of a national shortage of police officers and has sought more funding to recruit, train and employ more people. Lawyers and court officials say the lack of staff has led to frequent trial delays, frustrating not only those who work in the court system but witnesses, victims and defendants as well.
“The emotional cost to victims’ and defendants’ families waiting for hours for their opportunities to give victim impact testimony or address the court is unquantifiable,” Common Pleas Judge Barbara McDermott told The Philadelphia Inquirer this fall.
The order from President Judge Nina Wright Padilla and other court officials calls on Sheriff Bilal to submit a security plan within 30 days and implement it within 90 days.
Bilal, a former police officer, did not immediately return a message left Friday by The Associated Press at her office. She has asked City Council to increase her department’s funding by 30%, or by more than $10 million, to adequately staff courtrooms across five buildings in the city. Her department is also tasked with prisoner transport.
Defense lawyer William J. Brennan, who has worked in the city court system for 40 years, said the Criminal Justice Center remains less busy than it was before the COVID-19 shutdown. In his view, that can make it feel less safe, he said.
“It seems like as the volume has dwindled down, so has the security,” he said Friday. “This is a great wakeup call — a time to start fresh and do preventive measures before there’s a tragedy."
FILE - Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal gives a news conference in Philadelphia, Sept. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Brayden McNabb and Jack Eichel scored pivotal short-handed goals just seconds apart in the third period, and Alex Pietrangelo had three assists as the Vegas Golden Knights beat the San Jose Sharks 6-3 on Friday night.
Noah Hanifin, Mark Stone, Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden each had a goal for the Golden Knights, who scored four unanswered in the third.
The Sharks were led by rookie Will Smith, who had a goal and an assist. Shakir Mukhamadullin and Tyler Toffoli also scored.
San Jose led 3-2 early in the third and was on a power play, but Vegas quickly seized the momentum when McNabb tied it at 1:03 and Eichel scored the go-ahead goal 23 seconds later.
The Sharks broke a 2-all tie late in the second when Toffoli scored his team-leading 14th goal on a bank shot from behind the net. Toffoli’s shot ricocheted off the back of Vegas defenseman Nicolas Hague’s skate and slid past goalie Adin Hill.
Hill made 22 saves and Alexandar Georgiev turned back 30 shots for San Jose.
Vegas took over in the third period for its season-best fifth straight victory and ninth in 10 games.
San Jose held its own for a while against one of the NHL’s top teams, but then collapsed late. The rebuilding Sharks have lost five straight games, eight of their last nine and 12 of 14.
The Sharks played a video tribute before the game to mark Tomas Hertl’s return to San Jose for the first time since the team traded the two-time All-Star forward to Vegas this year. Hertl played parts of 11 seasons in San Jose after the Sharks selected him 17th overall in the 2012 draft. He helped lead the team to the final round of the 2019 Western Conference playoffs.
Mukhamadullin’s first NHL goal was his second career point. The 22-year-old defenseman acquired from New Jersey last year in the Timo Meier trade was playing in his ninth game.
Vegas hosts Calgary on Sunday night. San Jose hosts the Flames on Saturday night.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, right, fouls Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) moves the puck while being defended by Vegas Golden Knights defensemen Shea Theodore (27) and Brayden McNabb during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl gestures while being introduced before an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill, left, stops the shot by San Jose Sharks center Luke Kunin (11) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
San Jose Sharks goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (40) blocks a shot by Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (27) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl gestures while being introduced before an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
San Jose Sharks center Will Smith, top left, and Vegas Golden Knights right wing Keegan Kolesar (55) collide during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
