Lawton City Hall will adopt new security precautions starting at 7 a.m. March 20 to ensure a safer environment for citizens and employees in the building, city officials said in a press release.
Upon entering the building, a walk-through metal detector will be at the main entrance, and security personnel will use a handheld wand to search items and bags. Security cameras have already been installed and will monitor the entire process.
“It will create a safer working environment for the employees who work at City Hall and a more defensive security posture of the building by reducing the number of dangerous items that may be brought into the facility,” Robert Porter, owner of Triangle Security Services, said in the press release.
So, what happens if you have an item that is deemed unsafe?
According to Porter, the individual with the dangerous items (such as firearms or knives) would be denied access to the building and required to take the items back to their vehicle.
The increased precautions will take effect alongside City Hall’s new hours of operation, which are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.