The Missouri State Capitol on the first day of the 2025 legislative session Wednesday morning. A stage is being constructed ahead of Monday’s inauguration (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).
A committee dedicated to the security of the Missouri Capitol convened Thursday to raise concerns ahead of Monday’s inauguration of Gov.-elect Mike Kehoe.
Lawmakers are not only worried about the inauguration ceremony and governor’s ball but also the everyday operations of the Capitol Police.
President Pro Tem of the Missouri Senate Cindy O’Laughlin read a statement on behalf of herself and House Speaker Jon Patterson asking for greater transparency between police and legislative leaders.
“These concerns stem from numerous occasions of threats, including bomb threats, being made against the Missouri State Capitol building without leadership of either legislative body being notified,” O’Laughlin said.
State Sen. Rick Brattin, who was appointed chair of the Joint Committee on Capitol Security Thursday, said the Capitol Police change policies without notice or input to lawmakers.
“People from the General Assembly and the staff have raised concerns and issues that have potentially hampered the capability of members to be efficiently and effectively able to perform and be a part of the solution and security apparatus of this building,” he said.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, lawmakers have raised questions about opening a second public entryway on the east side of the Capitol. Visitors are screened through a metal detector in one area, but the same scanner is also available in a location more convenient to some parking spaces.
Visitors to the Capitol with a concealed carry permit are allowed to bring firearms into the building but are banned from carrying them into legislative chambers or committee rooms.
The Capitol Police is overseen by the Department of Public Safety. The department’s director, Sandy Karsten, attended the meeting despite having “about a day and a half left in (her) position.”
Capitol Police Chief Kim Schwartze assured lawmakers that the department, police and other law enforcement agencies have coordinated ahead of Monday’s events. The agencies have discussed safety efforts with the Governor’s Office, she said.
“There is a very comprehensive plan, and we’ve been meeting regularly, as well as having a lot of phone calls and a lot of emails,” she told the committee.
The committee closed the meeting to the public to discuss the plan and other concerns, speaking privately for an hour.
Lawmakers have not publicly addressed security concerns since 2021 following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.