An open letter to Sheriff Nygren

Sheriff Nygren,

I am writing to call your attention to an improper and disrespectful, and possibly unlawful, action taking place at certain times inside the west entrance to the McHenry County Government Center - the courthouse, where your office and the court are located.

Your court security officers are subjecting certain individuals to a non-random search. On Friday morning I observed the brother and mother of the late Kurt Milliman enter the courthouse and pass through security. They passed through the scanners without setting off alarms. I know how sensitive the scanners are, because often my own belt buckle will trigger the alarm.

I observed one court security officer take note of Scott Milliman as soon as he stepped through the doorway and before he approached the security barrier. The guard stepped forward and then addressed Milliman as soon as he had passed through the metal detection screening device - without setting it off.

Milliman was then scanned by wand, including having to remove ballpoint pens from his shirt pocket.

His mother, a senior citizen also of good reputation, was wanded-searched extensively by a differnt court security officer, although she too had passed through the metal detection device without triggering any alarm.

I doubt that the courthouse security officers at the entrance are acting without orders to do so. These orders would come from your chief of security, Howie Parth. He gets his orders from Undersheriff Zinke or you.

The only other arrivals who were wand-searched were those who had triggered alarms of the metal detection devices.

Will you please explain to the Public why the Milliman family, who are relatives of the victim of murder, are being subjected to this intense attention upon their arrival for court hearings?

Respectfully,

Gus Philpott