Virtual File - Item

Text: January 28, 2025

The Honorable Peggy Flanagan
Lieutenant Governor
75 Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155

The Honorable Bonnie Westlin
State Senator
Minnesota Senate Building
St. Paul, MN 55155

Kelly Moller
State Representative
Centennial Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155

Warren Limmer
State Senator
Minnesota Senate Building
St. Paul, MN 55155

The Honorable Jim Nash
State Representative
Centennial Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155

The Honorable Natalie Hudson
Chief Justice
25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155

Reference: Minnesota Capitol Area Security

Dear Committee Members,

Thank you for your leadership and service on the Advisory Committee on Capitol Area Security. While the committee has established a robust set of priorities for improving security at multiple buildings, only a portion of the requested funds have been allocated by the legislature. Despite the improvements that have been made, I remain concerned about the security of the legislature and the individuals who access the State Office Building, the Senate Building, and the State Capitol.

The United States has become more politically polarized than it has been in decades. Moreover, the willingness for certain actors to resort to political violence, threats, and intimidation to those who have different values and beliefs is clearly on the rise.

As such, I recommend committee members consider securing the entrances to the three buildings mentioned above as well as utilizing metal detectors, x-ray machines, and stationary security personnel, much like what has been done at the Minnesota Judicial Center, courthouses, and other government buildings throughout the state and country. At a minimum, bag checks should be conducted at the entrances of these buildings. As is the practice at many facilities, employees and registered and approved lobbyists could be exempt from the enhanced screening measures.

In addition, enforcing rules of decorum is essential. Research has demonstrated that attacks, threats, and intimidation constrain how freely officeholders interact with constituents, narrow the spectrum of policy positions they feel safe to support, and make them less willing to continue in public service. Unaddressed, the problem stands to endanger not just individual elected officials but more broadly, the free and fair functioning of representative democracy.

Thank you for your attention to this important issue. If there is anything the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office can do to assist in the evaluation or implementation of additional security measures, please don't hesitate to ask.

Sincerely,

Bob Fletcher

Ramsey County Sheriff

Copy: Bob Jacobson, Commissioner of Public Safety
Col. Christina Bogojevic, Minnesota State Patrol
Capt. Eric Roeske, Minnesota State Patrol
Lori Hodapp, Chief Sergeant-at-Arms