Security Scare in Washington: How Prepared Are Arkansas Capitol Police?
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
It`s one of the only buildings with its own police force.
With 19 officers and three radio operators, it`s a department many small town police chiefs would envy.
"It`s roughly the size of a small city," explains Capitol Police Chief Darrell Hedden. "We`ve got a bank up here, we`ve got restaurants, we`ve got a post office, it`s like a small city."
But instead of a mayor, the Capitol is home to a governor, dozens of other high-profile politicians and thousands of visitors.
After September 11th, the Capitol Police installed a metal detector, but not everyone goes through it. "If we tried to screen every employee everyday, it would take hours and hours to get into the building."
Critics say what happened in Washington is an example of why nobody should slip through, but Capitol Police say things are safer than ever-- even if the world outside doesn`t always feel that way.
