During a security incident in a state court building, to whom should a Court Officer Sergeant initially report?

• A. On-scene Supervisor or Court Security Supervisor
• B. Administrative Judge
• C. Court Clerk
• D. Building Manager

Answer: (A)

The immediate, on-site authority is the person coordinating the security response at the scene—the on-scene supervisor or the Court Security Supervisor. This individual has the responsibility and immediate visibility to assess threats, direct personnel, secure the area, and call in additional resources as needed. Reporting first to this on-site supervisor ensures a clear command chain, rapid decision-making, and efficient coordination of security actions.

The Administrative Judge, while important, operates at a higher level and should be kept informed through proper channels after the on-scene command is established. The Court Clerk handles court operations and records, not incident response, and the Building Manager oversees facilities rather than on-site security command, so they’re not the appropriate first point of contact during an incident.