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Arizona shooting drives Congress to beef up security

by Erin Kelly - Dec. 31, 2011 10:25 PM

Republic Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - When U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva plans big public events in his Southwest congressional district, he makes sure the local police know his schedule so they can send officers to provide extra security.

The five-term Democratic congressman said that's something he started doing just this year, at the urging of the U.S. Capitol Police. The agency, which is responsible for protecting members of Congress and their families, made the suggestion after Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot at an event near Tucson on Jan. 8. Five constituents who were waiting to see her died, as did one staff member. Twelve others were wounded.

The Capitol Police have asked all members of Congress to work with their local police agencies and keep them informed of their public-events schedules. It is then up to the local police to decide whether to send officers, based on their assessment of what's needed to protect the public as well as the lawmakers. The cost is borne by the local agencies.

"I don't think it would have been something I would even have thought of in the past," Grijalva, D-Ariz., said. "The interaction with constituents hasn't changed, but there's a different consciousness about where you go and how you notify law enforcement than there was before January 8th."

Congress members are taking their security and the security of their staffs more seriously, both in Washington and in their home districts, said Sgt. Kimberly Schneider of the U.S. Capitol Police.

"They are more inclined to report their concerns to the U.S. Capitol Police, are more vigilant and more conscious about their personal security," she said.

Although the Capitol Police compile statistics about the number of threats that Congress members receive and the number of requests they get from lawmakers for extra security, they do not release that information to the public, Schneider said.

However, local police agencies report an increase in security requests from elected officials and say they are now routinely sending officers -- both uniformed and undercover -- to public events hosted by members of Congress and other elected officials. The local police, not the lawmakers, decide whether officers are warranted at a public event. If a local police agency decides to send officers, it pays the cost. The officers are there to protect everyone at the event. They do not serve as bodyguards for members of Congress the way that the Secret Service does for the president of the United States.

The Flagstaff Police Department said freshman Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., who was sworn in just days before Giffords was shot, gives them a heads-up when he's having public events in the city so they can send officers. Police said they asked him to do so.

The shooting near Tucson also resulted in increased police presence at weekly Flagstaff City Council meetings, especially when such hot topics as water disputes, snow-making at ski resorts or immigration are being discussed, said Sgt. James Jackson.

Gosar said police send both uniformed and undercover officers to his public events. He said he has had no problems at his town-hall meetings, but he has had several incidents in his district office, including a package containing suspicious white powder and a bomb scare. There also was a man who appeared at his wife's workplace in May and frightened her by making reference to the Tucson shootings and asking where she lives.

Local law-enforcement authorities have responded well to all of the incidents, Gosar said.

"When this horrendous act took place on January 8, I was overwhelmed by all the county sheriffs and police chiefs in my district calling me and asking me to be sure to tell them when I was going to be in the district having events," Gosar said. "They've been outstanding, just incredible."

Rep. Ed Pastor, D-Ariz., who is serving his 11th term in office and is the senior member of the Arizona delegation in the U.S. House, said his office has established much stronger communication with the Phoenix Police Department and the Arizona State University Police Department since the shootings. Pastor's office is on ASU's downtown campus.

Pastor said his office and the agencies have worked out a rapid-response system to use if the staff feels threatened and needs immediate help. He also now shares his public-events schedule with Phoenix police at their request.

The Capitol Police also sent officers to Phoenix to assess the security of Pastor's glass-enclosed office shortly after the Jan. 8 shootings. Pastor said a special device was installed to allow the staff to quickly lock the office door by remote if they believe a threatening group or individual is headed their way. Pastor and other members of Congress are permitted to use their office spending accounts to pay for security improvements.

After the Giffords shooting, the House sergeant at arms offered lawmakers free ADT Security assessments in the district offices. The House Administration Committee also authorized House members to use their office allowances to pay for security enhancements.

"I think the staff feels more secure," Pastor said. "They've had security briefings, and there are now different technologies in place that give them more control over who comes into the office."

Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., said local law-enforcement authorities offered, unsolicited, to do a security assessment of his Peoria home. Franks said he accepted, and paid for some security upgrades to his house at his own expense. Members of Congress have been encouraged by House officials to have such security assessments performed by local police, the Capitol Police or ADT.

"My first concern of course is protecting my wife and our precious 3-year-old twins," Franks said.

He said local law-enforcement authorities had been sending officers to his public events even before the Jan. 8 shootings, but they have stepped up their presence since then.

"There's definitely been an increased focus on security," he said.

Tucson police said they have seen an increase in security requests from public officials, although they couldn't say how much of an increase there has been.

For high-profile public events, officers are nearly always sent when requested, said Sgt. Maria Hawke of the Tucson Police Department. For lower-profile events, the commander of the patrol division advises patrol officers to be aware of the gathering as they make their rounds, Hawke said.

While they have beefed-up security at public events, Congress members say they don't want their constituents to get the idea that they suddenly have a security entourage assigned to them all the time. When they aren't hosting big public events, members are generally on their own as they travel around their districts.

"I don't walk around fearful or paranoid every time I go out," Grijalva said. "I just went shopping unaccompanied at the Fourth Avenue Winter Street Fair (in Tucson). You can't ask for 24/7 protection from local police or burden local law enforcement with that kind of request."