Ritter, legislative leaders discuss security at Capitol

Alan Gathright and John C. Ensslin, Rocky Mountain News

Published July 18, 2007 at midnight

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Gov. Bill Ritter said today he is directing state law enforcement to conduct a threat assessment and make security recommendations for the Colorado Capitol complex.

"It’s a security audit for the state Capitol," Ritter said after an hour-long, closed-door meeting with legislative leaders and Colorado State Patrol officials. He expects the risk assessment and a range of recommendations to be completed in two weeks.

The meeting came in the wake of Monday’s fatal shooting of a delusional gunman at the Capitol.

State officials have been reluctant to impose barriers to public access in what they call "the People’s House."

But that’s changed since Aaron Snyder, a mentally troubled high-tech worker, arrived in a tuxedo at Ritter’s office Monday afternoon, declaring: "I am the emperor. I am here to take over state government."

Trooper Jay Hemphill fatally shot the 32-year-old Thornton man after Snyder pulled back his jacket to reveal a holstered a .357-caliber Magnum revolver and kept advancing despite Hemphill’s repeated commands to halt.

It was the first fatal shooting inside the state Capitol.

"Unfortunately, it was a tragic event that brings us to this place today," Ritter said. "But it’s the right thing to do." The governor said he and legislative leaders will make the final call on security improvements based on recommendations by the Department of Public Safety and State Patrol.

While the threat assessment is being done, a new procedure that requires visitors to enter the Capitol through a single, north basement entrance and pass through metal detectors will remain in place.

Previously, visitors could walk unrestricted through any one of six doors.

Some lawmakers want much tighter policies, while others warned about overreacting to the shooting.

"This is a very complex problem due to the age of this building," said Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald.

"In light of the work that goes on in this building and certainly in deference to the people who work in this building, we want to make it as secure as possible while at the same time maintaining that open atmosphere and an open government that people feel comfortable coming to see."

Legislative leaders praised the swift reaction of the State Patrol in stopping the gunman and preventing violence from spreading in the sprawling, maze-like historic building.

"The system did work on Monday," said House Minority Leader Mike May. "The perpetrator is the only one who lost his life."

"I’m hopeful that whatever security measures are ultimately adopted, it’s still a place where the public can come and see their government work and that we’re not in a fortress Capitol," he added.

After meeting with about 150 state employees Tuesday, Ritter said: "We’ve had very intense conversations about (worker safety) because of the incident and the answer is we’re doing everything we can to get people to a place where they feel safe."

He said Capitol workers, some of whom have met with crisis counselors in the shooting aftermath, expressed "prior concerns that they had (about security) and how much they sort of felt better about things yesterday" because of tighter safeguards.

Law enforcement officials cautioned that it’s difficult to guarantee absolute safety in a truly public building.

"Security is what it is," said Maj. Ron Woods of the Colorado State Patrol. "It is never foolproof."

A "threat assessment and response" report was delivered to lawmakers in 1999. Restrictions were put into place for a while after the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

And just last year, the State Patrol delivered an "attention-grabbing demonstration" about security risks at the Capitol, said former lawmaker Hugh Fowler, chairman of the State Capitol Building Advisory Committee.

Several lawmakers expressed concern about the galleries on the third floor, where visitors can watch the House and the Senate on the second floor below.

"I don’t think metal detectors outside the galleries is a bad idea," said Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany, R-Colorado Springs. "It could be an alternative to securing the building."

"There is limited access now, but the public can still enter," Ritter said Tuesday during a news conference on the west steps. "There are tourists in the building right now. That’s a good thing for me to see that they are still willing to come."

The governor praised members of his administrative staff and Colorado State Patrol security detail for performing "in a noble and remarkably professional way on Monday."

The governor described how he talked to his office staff and the building employees Tuesday morning about the incident. He said that trauma counselors were made available to them.

"I likened a violent act to a big rock that is thrown in the middle of a still pond," he said. Like the waves that result, the repercussions can grow larger, the further they get from the central incident, he said.

"Our employees will have to deal with the impact and we want to make sure the resources and support networks are in place for them to do that," he said.

While Snyder never drew his gun, Denver Police Chief Gerry Whitman said Tuesday that, based on his preliminary understanding of the facts, Hemphill appeared to have been justified in killing the approaching gunman.

"The trooper did exactly what he was trained to do, and what he needed to do to protect himself," Whitman said.

Ritter also praised Hemphill and the security detail assigned to protect the governor and his staff. The governor, a former Denver district attorney, said he had spoken to Hemphill earlier Tuesday.

The governor said it is important that the investigation of the shooting proceed, but added, "I just appreciate Jay Hemphill and his professionalism."

Hemphill remains on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation..

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