The security audit of the Minnesota Capitol Complex is nearing completion. That's according to the state Senate's Capital Security Committee.
the external security audit of the Minnesota State Capitol, Senate Office Building, Judicial Center, and Centennial Building is on schedule to be finished by the end of the year.
The Department of Public Safety says they'll be adding new personnel to tackle the issue.
"They actually had the opportunity to add additional troopers," says State Patrol Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Geiger. "Mid to late-November is when they'll start their training and then be out there in the field, so to speak. Additionally, in the first part of December we'll be signing and promoting a person, a sworn trooper, as a threat investigator."
The committee stressed that new security measures must balance public access with necessary risk reduction.
This comes after a spike in threats to the capitol building over the summer, including the assassination of lawmakers and a building break-in.
The Department of Public Safety says it plans to add 20 new security officers and a dedicated threat investigator to help combat risks but also made some general protocol recommendations.
"The next step that we're going to be recommending is limiting access points for key cards after hours," Geiger explained. "So, we want to make that consistent to make sure that our people that are out there. The Capitol security officers and troopers here, have a better understanding of when everything opens and when everything closes."
An external security audit of all four key capitol buildings is still underway.