Security checkpoints find drugs, weapons

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Security checkpoints at state office buildings have done more than protect against possible terrorist attacks -- they have turned up illegal drugs and weapons.

Since the checkpoints were established in mid-October following the Sept. 11 attacks and U.S. military action in Afghanistan, law officers have made 43 arrests for weapons and drugs at state buildings, officials said Wednesday.

About half of those occurred at a Jefferson City office building adjacent to the Capitol. The others took place at office buildings around the state.

None of the arrests occurred at the Capitol itself and none have involved state employees, who can avoid the new metal detectors and searches by showing their state identification badges.

Doing good things

"We were surprised that we were seeing this stuff turn up," Capitol Police Chief Lou Tedeschi said.

"Any weapons that we stop getting into the buildings is a good thing," Tedeschi said. "The illegal drugs is just a side issue to our main focus, which is preventing weapons and explosive devices from getting into the building."

Law officers made 15 drug arrests, including one for cocaine and others for marijuana and drug paraphernalia, at the Truman State Office Building across the street from the Capitol, Tedeschi said. Ten of those drug arrests came in January

Since October, there were three arrests at the building for possession of weapons -- one knife and two brass knuckles. The Truman building is a high-traffic complex that, among other things, includes an office that issues state driver's licenses.

Mark Allen, who oversees security at state offices outside of the Capitol region, said there have long been concerns about the nature of people entering state office buildings.

"We've long suspected it's been a problem. It's not like this just dawned on us after September 11," Allen said. "Previous public policy was not to do the level of screening we're doing now.

"Until you do something like this, you don't know what's coming into your facilities."

According to Allen, there have been 20 weapons arrests and four felony drug arrests at facilities in Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield and St. Joseph. He did not have a breakdown of where the arrests occurred.

"All the drug arrests were consistent with small amounts," Allen said. "Clearly, we don't want any illegal contraband or weapons brought into office buildings."

Variety of help

Checkpoints at state buildings across Missouri have been staffed by a mix of agencies, including Capitol Police, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri State Water Patrol, Conservation Department and Parks Division.

Tedeschi and Allen were quick to note that the drug arrests did not indicate whether those carrying the drugs were providing it to state employees.

The last time security was beefed up at state buildings came after the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. Missouri officials discussed metal detectors but instead took measures including concrete barricades.

State building managers have told state lawmakers that they want to take more permanent security steps at the Capitol Complex, such as installing turnstiles and security-badge scanners and adding more cameras at both the Capitol and Truman Building.

They also want to buy mailroom X-ray machines and install environmental sensors in the two buildings' air ducts to detect biological or chemical attacks.

The project could cost as much as $2.4 million and could take a year to put in place.