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

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

  • Security Today Announces 2025 CyberSecured Award Winners

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 CyberSecured Awards winners. Sixteen companies are being recognized this year for their network products and other cybersecurity initiatives that secure our world today. Read Now

  • Empowering and Securing a Mobile Workforce

    What happens when technology lets you work anywhere – but exposes you to security threats everywhere? This is the reality of modern work. No longer tethered to desks, work happens everywhere – in the office, from home, on the road, and in countless locations in between. Read Now

  • TSA Introduces New $45 Fee Option for Travelers Without REAL ID Starting February 1

    The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today that it will refer all passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly an option to pay a $45 fee to use a modernized alternative identity verification system, TSA Confirm.ID, to establish identity at security checkpoints beginning on February 1, 2026. Read Now

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.