MN capitol security: State to hire expert for security assessment
Minnesota DPS announces capitol security review
State officials announced they will bring in a third-party expert to take a look at security at the Minnesota State Capitol following a breach last weekend.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota State Patrol is bringing in an expert to assess security at the Minnesota State Capitol in the wake of the shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses last month.
Leaders are set to discuss the decision at a 2 p.m. news conference on Tuesday. FOX 9 will carry that news conference live in the video player above.
Safety at the Minnesota capitol
What we know:
The shootings of Rep. Melissa Hortman and Sen. John Hoffman in June shined a new spotlight on lawmaker safety in recent weeks.
Earlier this month, Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher wrote a letter calling out lapses in communication immediately following the shootings, which resulted in some lawmakers not learning about the potential threat until hours later. Fletcher asked for an audit to determine which state agency is tasked with notifying lawmakers and local law enforcement about potential threats.
On Monday, FOX 9 reported that Sen. Heather Gustafson was pushing for a full after-action reports on the shootings as well as a security breach over the weekend. In the breach, a naked man was discovered inside the capitol building late Friday night. The man later returned to the capitol grounds two more times on Saturday before being arrested on a warrant.
Delayed arrest:
At a news conference on Tuesday, Minnesota State Patrol Colonel Christina Bogojevic explained why troopers didn't arrest the naked man after being found in the capitol.
She says the man, identified Tuesday as Dominic Peace, was wanted on a warrant that didn't allow for extradition outside of Wisconsin. At the same time, it was clear he needed mental treatment so troopers opted to send the man to the hospital.
After the second incident, troopers worked with Wisconsin authorities to update the warrant to allow for extradition.
Third-party review
What's new?:
On Tuesday, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety announced they would hire "a third-party expert to conduct a full security assessment at the Minnesota State Capitol complex."
"We want an outside perspective," said Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson. "Someone who will ask the hard questions and help us see what we might not be seeing internally. This is not about pointing fingers. It's about coming together to understand what's working, where the gaps are, and certainly how we can strengthen our coordination moving forward."
"The State Patrol has been discussing the importance of a full security review at the Capitol complex since June 14th," added Minnesota State Patrol Col. Christina. Bogojevic. "It's been a number of years since the last security assessment has taken place. We are in the process of finalizing a contract with a firm that will be conducting the security assessment."
Under consideration:
Col. Bogojevic says officials are also looking at technology they can use to improve safety. Bogojevic says they also consider to weigh the possibility of adding metal detectors.
She says they will continue to try to balance security needs with keeping the capitol an open place for the public.
"The Minnesota Capitol is often referred to as the People's House," said Col. Bogojevic. "A place that belongs to every Minnesotan. That identity is foundational, but so is the safety of everyone who walks through its doors, including lawmakers, staff, visitors, children on field trips, and members of the public exercising their rights. Balancing openness with security is never easy, but it's a responsibility we take seriously and constantly evaluate."