Armed Guards Coming to City Hall

Although there already are three armed Cincinnati Police officers who work at City Hall, officials are hiring three gun-carrying security guards to increase protection for council members at a cost of about $80,000 in taxpayer money.

Multiple sources at City Hall tell CityBeat that the two unarmed security guards now stationed at the front entrance were told their last day would be Feb. 29, and the armed guards would begin working March 3, in conjunction with the return of metal detectors to the building.

City Manager Milton Dohoney Jr. approved the changes after Council Members Laketa Cole and Cecil Thomas asked him to review security measures after the recent shootings at a city council meeting in Kirkwood, Mo.

Currently, all visitors to City Hall must sign in at a front desk, which is staffed by two unarmed guards. The guards then issue badges to visitors, which must be worn at all times while inside the building. City employees must show their photo IDs when they enter.

Under the new arrangement, all visitors to City Hall will have to pass through metal detectors when they use the building’s front entrance. An armed guard will be posted at the spot. Armed guards also will be posted at the basement-level courtyard entrance, which mostly is used by employees and delivery drivers, and on the third floor, to roam around council chambers and in front of each council member’s office.

Meg Olberding, a city spokeswoman, wouldn’t confirm the details.

“We’re looking at security options but we haven’t made any final decisions or plans yet,” Olberding said Thursday afternoon.

The unarmed guards at City Hall, however, already were informed they were being reassigned. Also, several sources at City Hall verified the details for CityBeat, stating that was the plan likely to be implemented.

Assistant City Manager Scott Stiles was supposed to brief staffers in council offices about the changes today, but the session was postponed because many of the offices were closed due to inclement weather.

Metal detectors have been used at City Hall’s entrance before. Mayor Mark Mallory had them removed shortly after he took office in late 2005, though, stating he wanted to improve public access to the building.

Some city staffers questioned whether the armed guards were a necessary expense. They noted that three armed police officers work in City Hall — the mayor’s bodyguard, council’s sergeant-at-arms and a lieutenant who is the supervisor in the police records office.

The last safety improvements at City Hall were made in summer 2006, when council chambers were being renovated. About $151,000 in changes were made to the meeting room including $53,859 to expand the wooden dais where council sits and another $6,150 to install bulletproof panels so the mayor and members could duck behind them if attacked during a meeting.

— Kevin Osborne

Comments

[Rayshawn]

Laketa Cole is probably afraid of her boyfriend's girlfriend coming down for a rematch.

[Not the Mamma Cass!]

What a bunch of cowards! Why not instead issue concealed carry permits so Council members and the Mayor can pack heat and actually defend themselves and protect others instead of giving them George Costanza-style cubbies in which to duck and run?

[dannie phoneysi]

It all started when Hitman Howdie Beatty killed Kabaca Oba.
The hitman's brother Junebug is always stalking the Mayor.
I'd beef up security too with that lowlife freely roaming City Hall with the evil dale 4 Sale.

[gerard]

@Rayshawn That's what I read here: http://www.cincinnatidealer.com/content/view/603/27/. "Cole Requests Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Detectors."

[Gun Nutter]

Great, 'Mama Cass' is a gun freak as well. Figures.

[Not the Mamma Cass!]

Nutter: no, I'd say the "gun freaks" are those who use firearms in the commission of crimes.

I guess you're ok with those folks but not those who would use firearms to defend themselves and others from predators?

[..]

Metal detectors I can understand, hiring additional armed guards I think is a joke. There's always at least 1 armed police officer in council chambers already during official business. The only time someone would show up with a gun looking to hurt someone is when council or committees are in session. Detail an extra uniformed officer to sit in the council chambers when the members are there. Half the time police officers are there to give testimony anyways. I guess taxpayers will have to start paying for a bunch of trigger happy guards to wonder around the building all day when they aren't needed.