Georgia City Council Weighs New Security Measures Following Mass Shooting

Georgia City Council Weighs New Security Measures Following Mass Shooting

The decision to add metal detectors to a municipal building in Marrietta, Ga. is getting moved forward following the Virginia Beach mass shooting.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Jun 04, 2019

The conversation surrounding security at a Georgia city municipal building has shifted in meaning for the Marrietta City Council after a mass shooting in Virginia Beach that killed 12 city workers and injured four more, according to the Marrietta Daily Journal.

“The people in public work, and that was the people in Virginia Beach, the public workers employed at the city, all of us are so vulnerable these days,” said Councilman Grif Chalfant.

Chalfant requested the city’s Public Safety Committee discuss purchasing portable metal detectors to use before meetings at City Hall. The discussion of purchasing metal detectors for Marietta’s City Hall has been a topic for the city council for a while, but the committee is now pushing the plan forward to the full council.

The city already has experience with metal detectors, as last February one was added to the courthouse in downtown Marrietta. Those entering the courthouse must be scanned by the metal detector, which is currently manned by Cobb County Police and the Cobb’s Sheriff’s Department deputies during all hours that the building is open to the public.

This new plan for metal detectors at the City Hall would only be to scan those coming in for committee meetings for now. Mayor Steve Tumlin said expanding to scanning entrants throughout the day could be on the table in the future.

The plan for additional security comes after 12 people were killed in a shooting at a municipal building in Virginia Beach. The suspected shooter in that case was an employee of the city and used an access card to gain entrance to the city building.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Accelerating a Pathway

    There is a new trend touting the transformational qualities of AI’s ability to deliver actionable data and predictive analysis that in many instances, seems to be a bit of an overpromise. The reality is that very few solutions in the cyber-physical security (CPS) space live up to this high expectation with the one exception being the new generation of Physical Identity and Access Management (PIAM) software – herein recategorized as PIAM+. Read Now

  • Protecting Your Zones

    It is game day. You can feel the crowd’s energy. In the parking lot. At the gate. In the stadium. On the concourse. Fans are eager to party. Food and merchandise vendors ready themselves for the rush. Read Now

  • Street Smarts

    The ongoing acceptance of AI and advanced data analytics has allowed surveillance camera technology to shift from being a tactical tool to a strategic business solution. Combining traditional surveillance technology with AI-based data-driven insights can streamline transportation systems, enhance traffic management, improve situational awareness, optimize resource allocation and streamline emergency response procedures. Read Now

  • The Progress of Biometrics

  • Next-Gen AI for Smart Cities

    The future of smart city technology is not being shaped in Silicon Valley — it is taking root in Dubuque, Iowa. With a population of about 60,000, this mid-sized city has become a live testbed for AI-driven traffic management thanks to a unique public-private collaboration led by Milestone Systems. Project Hafnia demonstrates how cities can transform urban mobility and safety through Responsible Technology—without costly infrastructure overhauls. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.