Everyone searched — even the mayor

As residents entered the Alcazar Room this afternoon, in preparation for the 5:00 p.m. regular meeting of the St Augustine City Commission, they were required to pass through a manned security checkpoint; emptying their pockets of metal objects and surrendering their bags for inspection before being frisked with an electronic wand.

Even Mayor Joseph L. Boles, Jr. stood for a frisk by St Augustine Police Sergeant Michael Etheridge; as he re-entered the regular session after a break from the earlier closed-door, shade meeting.

“Me, too,” Boles told Historic City News editor Michael Gold, as he raised his arms and turned, front and back to be searched. “I’m used to it from visits to the courthouse — they search all of the attorneys.”

Father Tom Willis, the rector of the Cathedral Basilica of St Augustine, was searched; but, when we asked, he said jokingly that they didn’t find any hidden weapons on him.

The very first person to clear security after the implementation of the new safety measures was community activist and a regular front-row fixture at City Commission meetings, Ed Slavin. He surrendered his briefcase for inspection and was frisked with the handheld wand, and then he was allowed to enter the meeting room. Slavin told Historic City News that he approves of the enhanced security and believes that it is warranted.

“The City is obligated to make these public meetings safe,” Slavin said. “I feel safer now that the screening is in place.”

Tonight’s meeting was only attended by about 30 persons. No backups at the door were experienced. The only objection that was noted was from another regular public speaker, 67-year-old Betty Jane “B.J.” Kalaidi. She asked that, in the future, she only be wand-searched by the female officer present.

ALCAZAR ROOM