Tipton County officials are increasing security at the county courthouse in response to recent shootings at schools and other public places.

The county commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to allocate $25,000 to a security fund. That money will be used to hire security staff and to restrict exits and entrances to the courthouse during after-hours meetings.

The commissioners also recently approved installing panic buttons in all courthouse offices.

James Mullins is the president of the Tipton County Commissioners. He says security hasn’t been a huge concern in their community, but recent nationwide events made the vulnerabilities hard to ignore.

“We decided it was time to quit talking about addressing the courthouse security issues and to actually take some action,” he says.

Mullins says he added the measure to the commissioner’s agenda last Friday before a school shooting at a middle school in Noblesville, Indiana. He says the shooting only reinforced his belief that more security is needed.

He says the commissioners will work with the county council in the future to decide how to fund security staff positions beyond this year.

Tipton County Sheriff Tony Frawley is already working to fill the security staff positions.