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(Laredo) Security has been beefed up the Justice Center by the Webb County Sheriff’s Department.  Sheriff Cuellar explained that the increased security has been long overdue and has been in the works since his administration took office being held back because of  financial reasons by the Security Commission.    “We made a security presentation back in April  but the commission failed to act upon his request citing financial reasons”.   The Sheriff’s Department took the initiative for providing extra security measures using forfieture funds from the Sheriff’s Department.  The increased security has been met with mixed reaction but the overall concern and objective is to keep the County Employees as well as the taxpayers safe during the use of the building.  Two state of the art Metal Detectors were put in place this morning that will help Deputies with the incredible amount of foot traffic at the Justice Center.  The detectors are located at the main entrances to the building one facing the entrance from the parking garage and the other at the entrance on Victoria St.  The detectors are manned by County Deputies who will also have hand wands for extensive searches if it is determined necessary.  The detectors actually pinpoint precisely what area of the body that a medal object has been detected.   The metal detectos will also be accompanied by an x-ray machine that will be used for packages and purses the objects will be passed thru the machine after the person carrying the objects have been checked.  The goal is to do everything as cost efficient as possible as the Sheriff further explained that civilian security personnel could be hired to help the deputies at the entrances.   The County has approved $226,000 worth of intelligent video surveilance equipment that will automatically assist in determining if a person has walked away from a package or item within the building.   Similar security measures are already in place in counties such as Bexar County.  An officer was also visible at the entrance to the Justice Center Parking area who was checking visitors as they drove into the area.   Additional foot officers will be walking the inside and outside of the building withing the next coming weeks.   The increased security is not expected to slow down business at the Justice Center by any means on the contrary it will help make everyone feel more secure as they conduct their daily business.   The increased security took effect today and increased measures will take effect within the next two months to help complete the security process.   County employees showed their support and appreciation for the measures as they walked out during their lunch hours approaching the Sheriff and thanking him personally.   Sheriff Cuellar also made it clear that they will continue to monitor the security demands of the building on a daily basis to make sure that every department is taken care of, “Some things still need to worked out and looked at closely something of this magnitude does not happen overnight we will continue to work on better improving the security situation for the Justice Center”.