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•� StarTribnne Cities re-examine their security in wake of New Hope shooting Article by: John Reinan February 22, 2015-8:11 PM There's a new presence these days at the New Hope City Other cities have reviewed their long-standing security Council table—the chief of police, who sits with the council procedures and concluded that no immediate changes are during meetings and keeps an eye on the door. Another needed. officer is posted outside. "Obviously,what happened in New Hope is very But as the people of New Hope know very well, no security concerning,"said Maple Grove Police Chief Eric Werner. "It measure can truly guarantee safety in a public building. gives you a chance to review and reflect on your own After all, there were 20 armed officers in the City Hall lobby procedures. on Jan. 26, when Raymond Kmetz burst in and wounded two police officers at a swearing-in ceremony before he was 'We have not changed much in regard to our procedures. killed by return fire. We've got a good balance between maintaining the open government we have here, and maintaining safety and "Total security is just about impossible because it's a public security." building,"said New Hope Mayor Kathi Hemken. "Having a bunch of police officers, does that stop a guy from coming Still, a police sergeant appeared at a Maple Grove City in the building? Obviously not." Council meeting this month and gave the council an update on security. Al Madsen, city administrator, mentioned that the council's dais is fortified, and that the building has cameras and panic alarms. But like other city officials, he was reluctant to give specifics on security procedures. We don't want to give the bad guys too much of a heads- 1 - `+ up,"he said. N Minnesotans are accustomed to seeing "No guns allowed" - signs posted at building entrances. But with few exceptions, only private businesses have the right to ban guns. Under Reinforcements converged on New Hope City Hall after a gunman state law, the only public buildings where guns are banned opened fire in January.There alreadywere 20 armed officers are schools, courthouses and a few buildings in the "Capitol inside at the time.JEFF WHEELER•jeff.wheeler @startribune.com area."That means cities can't ban guns in their own buildings. That hasn't stopped police and city leaders across the metro area from taking a hard look at security in the wake "That's beyond common sense,"said Leonard Matarese, of the shooting. director of research and project development at the Center for Public Safety Management in Washington, D.C. "If a city isn't looking at it now,there's something wrong," Matarese provides security advice and education to more said Tom Ryan, mayor of Blaine for 21 years. Ryan recently than 9,000 town, city and county members of the changed the location of his public office hours from a International City/County Management Association. remote upstairs room to one downstairs near the police station. Like New Hope, Blaine has added a uniformed Matarese said there are no quick fixes for security in public police officer at council meetings. buildings. Metal detectors are expensive and have a high error rate when used by inexperienced people, he said. "And the officer sits in front and faces out, so he can watch They also have to be recalibrated frequently. things," Ryan said. Matarese was a career law enforcement officer and also has served as a city manager and public safety director. It's