Security tightened at governor's office

CHICAGO -- Illinois State Police installed a portable metal detector outside the governor's Chicago office shortly after a deadly shooting at the Capitol this week, but the Capitol itself is still without metal detectors and its security guards remain unarmed.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who spends most of his time in Chicago, signed an executive order Tuesday to install metal detectors at entrances to the Capitol in Springfield as soon as possible.

Officials didn't know how soon the devices would be in place, though, and Blagojevich said he might have to call a special session of the legislature to get the funds to pay for them.

The portable detector, meanwhile, was installed late Tuesday in the state-owned James R. Thompson Center near a 16th floor desk where a guard checks the identification of visitors to the governor's office. It had yet to be activated Wednesday because the guards had yet to be trained to use it, said State Police Lt. Lincoln Hampton. Hampton said the training shouldn't take long.

Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff said Illinois State Police determined the portable detector outside the governor's office was "an important precaution to take quickly."

The Illinois State Police are responsible for security at the Thompson Center, while the secretary of state's security force is responsible for the Capitol.

The emphasis on security in both buildings came after a gunman walked into the state Capitol's main entrance Monday and fatally shot an unarmed security guard, then walked away.

Derek W. Potts, a 24-year-old recent college dropout, was arrested early Tuesday and charged with first-degree murder, burglary and gun violations. Authorities have said they know of no motive for the shooting. The governor was not in Springfield at the time, and the legislature was not in session.

Potts' court-appointed attorney, Brian Otwell, said mental illness would likely factor in the case.

Since the attack, armed officers have patrolled outside the Capitol, but inside, the security guards remained unarmed Wednesday and there were no metal detectors.

Secretary of State Jesse White had previously asked lawmakers to install metal detectors but said it never happened because of budget constraints and a debate over avoiding turning the seat of government into a fortress.

Blagojevich said Tuesday he was putting an end to that debate. He said other security changes could include arming Capitol guards and restricting access around the building.

Permanent metal detectors already were in place on certain floors in the Michael Bilandic Building, a state office building across the street from the Thompson Center where the state Supreme Court sometimes holds hearings.

Glass enclosures also were recently added as a security measure at the entries to parts of the Thompson Center where constitutional officers have offices. Ottenhoff said those were ordered following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Armed officers also patrol inside the Thompson Center, and Hampton said officials were considering installing other metal detectors in the building.