Governor Kasich says he’d like to have metal detectors installed at the Ohio Statehouse. But Gregg Dodd, a spokesman for the Ohio Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board, the panel that operates the Statehouse, says the building is safe and secure without them. Dodd says the Ohio Highway Patrol post in the Statehouse has security features in place and can put more in place on a moment’s notice.
"And when there are heightened security risks, we do implement heightened security measures," Dodd says. "And at a moment’s notice, we can put out portable magnetometers, as well as x-ray machines. And, we do have several handheld metal detectors as well—so we do have that stuff on site. It is kept in working order.”
Dodd says permanent magnetometers could be installed if the highway patrol thinks it’s necessary. He says more than 90 thosuand Ohio schoolchildren visit the Statehouse annually….along with many other citizens. Dodd says the management of the Statehouse wants to make sure it continues to be accessible to visitors.