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Governments Evaluate Safety After Missouri Shooting
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Published: February 9, 2008
TAMPA - Boisterous people are often told to sit down or risk ejection from local meetings, but now, with the shooting deaths of five government workers during a meeting in Missouri, some Tampa Bay area officials are checking whether that's enough.
Angry about losing a federal lawsuit over his free speech rights, a government gadfly walked into the Kirkwood City Council meeting Thursday and opened fire while shouting "Shoot the mayor" before he was shot to death by police.
Here's a rundown on security in place for local government meetings.
Tampa: Police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said City Hall security was "thoroughly and aggressively assessed in 2003" after a shooting during a government meeting in New York.
"We have a layered security system that is designed to achieve the delicate balance between creating a safe environment and having a public open meeting," she said. "You can't imprison the meeting to protect the meeting."
That system always is being re-examined, but she expects no tweaking because of the Missouri shootings. She declined to discuss specifics of security but said measures are in place, even if they are not visible, and go beyond the uniformed officer with a metal-detecting wand at the front door.
The council, though sometimes addressing stressful issues, has never come under a physical threat, she said. "If we had someone we were concerned about, the system is set up to monitor them," she said.
Hillsborough County: At least one armed county security officer, separate from the sheriff's office, attends all Hillsborough County Commission meetings, said Scott Dunlap, director of security. Two officers are present at public hearings.
"If something is going to happen," Dunlap said, "it'll happen at a public hearing."
Temple Terrace: City officials will make a check on security procedures, though no violence has erupted there.
"We always have one or two armed officers at every meeting," said city spokesman Michael Dunn. "We'll look at this to see if we need to change anything."
Shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, Temple Terrace police began using a walk-through metal detector at city council meetings, he said. It is no longer used.
Pasco County: A court bailiff is assigned to monitor county commission meetings but meeting-goers are not screened and there are no metal detectors at government buildings other than courthouses.
"We have always operated that this is a public meeting, and it's open to the public," said Michele Baker, chief assistant county administrator.
"The bailiff, like all law enforcement officers, is trained to size up people and if they are agitated, they are trained to notice. Government is open to the public, particularly here in Florida, but everywhere, and that's a risk you take."
St. Petersburg: The city has security officers who screen people entering meetings, said police spokesman Bill Proffitt.
"In addition, we have plainclothes officers at all the public meetings," he said. "We're not looking at making any changes based on what happened in Missouri."
The screening process for people entering City Hall includes a sign-in sheet and a hand-held scanning device, plus passes for those visiting specific departments.
Pinellas County: Two sheriff's deputies who work county security every day attend county commission meetings, said sheriff's Sgt. Jim Bordner.
They know from their experience who might need to be watched, he said, adding that it's too early to say whether the Missouri shooting will prompt changes.
"We don't know if it is a trend or an isolated incident."
Reporter Julia Ferrante contributed to this report. Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at kmorelli@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7760.
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