Page 18 - Security Today, April 2021

A Capitol Breach
What the security community needs to take from the Capitol Hill breach
By Steve Van Till
On Jan. 6, the U.S. Capitol security perimeter was breached and the nation watched as multiple levels of security failed. The events were distressing and shock- ing but it is important that we learn from this incident to ensure a more secure future, not just for our legisla- ture, but for any building where people gather to live or work.
As the details of the insurrection continue to unfold, we are gaining insight into where things went wrong. There was intel- ligence regarding the possibility of attack, but not the proactive preparedness needed to fortify or defend against it. With so many pre-event warnings, why weren’t the Capitol Police and the Capitol itself more prepared? What should have been done differently?
As security professionals, we believe that everyone has a right to feel safe at work. The greatest responsibility for the security community is to ensure that all employees, customers, students, residents, and constituents feel safe under our duty of care. Sec- ondarily, it is important to protect the physical space and ulti-
mately the reputation of the people who use the space. Unfor- tunately for many of us, the Capitol Hill breach shines a light on how fragile safety can be and how quickly relatively normal situations can change. The reality that was illuminated is that pre- paredness is our best line of defense.
It seems that for the Capitol Police, hindsight is 2020. Accord- ing to an NPR article, Yogananda Pittman, acting Capitol Police Chief said, “In light of recent events, I can unequivocally say that vast improvements to the physical security infrastructure must be made to include permanent fencing, and the availability of ready, back-up forces in close proximity to the Capitol.”
While exterior fences and additional visible police presence are strong deterrents, security professionals know there is much more unseen security involved in any building’s physical security infrastructure. It seems like an obvious first step is to evaluate the access control, video surveillance, and emergency lockdown technology that is currently in use.
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APRIL 2021 | SECURITY TODAY
PERIMETER SECURITY
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