There have been many changes in how homeland security is handled in Missouri in the 20 years since 9/11.
Shortly after the attacks occurred in 2001, then-Gov. Bob Holden named retired Army Col. Tim Daniel as the director of homeland security.
The state no longer has a homeland security department, Missouri Public Safety Director Sandra Karsten said. There is an office for homeland security, and it falls under the Department of Public Safety.
"We also have the Homeland Security Advisory Council, which is comprised of many designees from state departments as well as emergency management agencies," Karsten said. "Then we have nine regions in the state, made up of local officials, dealing with security issues."
There has also been reduction in federal dollars coming to Missouri for homeland security.
According to MDPS figures, Missouri got $46.9 million for homeland security in fiscal year 2005. This year, the state got $7.8 million. Breaking that down even further, $3.5 million of that amount went to the Urban Area Security Initiative, which deals with security matters in St. Louis. That left $4.3 million to be used in the rest of the state.
"The regions and the advisory council looks at our capabilities and our gaps, and they make recommendations on how that money should be spent," Karsten said. "Primarily, it is spent to sustain our efforts, and the training and equipment that has been purchased over the years."
Some of the first security measures to be addressed was the access to the state Capitol and other state office buildings. A guard shack was constructed on the east side of the Capitol, and metal detectors were installed at the Capitol and Truman Building.
"When 9/11 happened, what you saw at the Capitol complex were Missouri Highway Patrol troopers, park rangers and a lot of supplementary staff to assist Capitol Police in those buildings," Karsten said. "As time went on, we got a little more comfortable, and some of those measures were removed. The detectors at the Capitol did leave for a time, but returned in 2017. In the future, I think you'll see varying levels of security, depending on the perception of the threats at the time and the political climate."
For local residents, Jefferson City Police Chief Roger Schroeder said any substantial changes in the manner of their police protection probably haven't been noticed. The difference, he said, is what occurs behind the scenes.
"This fact applies to the planning or preparation for critical incidents, which we define as an occurrence or event that requires an emergency response to prevent or minimize the loss of life or damage to property that is beyond the capabilities of a patrol section response," Schroeder said.
This includes, "diligently training explicitly for terrorist attacks and related issues," Schroeder said.
"We currently plan (behind the scenes) for the most horrific incidents and adjust downward to meet the actual needs of the real time event," Schroeder said. "Beyond the attacks on the city of New York and Washington, D.C., the tornado in Joplin in May 2011 is an example of a tragic event which extended much beyond the scale of what was believed to be possible. We must prepare for all possibilities, particularly as capital of the state of Missouri."
Karsten noted one of the most valuable pieces of equipment they've put in place since 911 is the Missouri Statewide Interoperability Network, which allows participating agencies to communicate with each other via radio. It went operational in January 2013.
"As you think back over the 9/11 time period, there was a lot of fragmented systems across Missouri and law enforcement, fire services and 9-1-1 centers could not talk to one another," Karsten said. "Now, with some state funding and federal funding, the system has been built out."
Along with the network itself, Karsten said several communication vehicles have gone into service since 9/11.
"Guns and ammunition do not come into the funding categories," Karsten said. "Federal officials use what is known as Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment, which looks at what an area's threats are, what are the risks and what are the responding capabilities. In our area, they could look at what could happen if something occurred at Bagnell Dam. When the capability gaps are identified, the funding from Homeland Security would be put forth for that. Weapons do not rise to that level."
Schroeder said the development of specialized tactical equipment over the past 20 years has enhanced JCPD's ability to respond to a variety of critical incidents.
"The development of technical equipment has also evolved/improved at a rapid pace, which has enabled law enforcement agencies to accumulate, coordinate and disseminate comprehensive information at a rate not dreamed of 20 years ago," Schroeder said. "Yes, we have acquired advanced equipment, but it's not appropriate to reveal the specifics."
When asked if Missouri is more secure than it was 20 years ago, Karsten said she believed the state is more aware of potential security threats.
"I think information sharing among law enforcement has caused us to be more aware," Karsten said. "I think our citizenry is more aware. Does that translate into security? I don't know. But, I can tell you we work very hard with communications, information sharing and training to ensure that our communities have some level of safety and preparedness."
Karsten was also asked about any additional security measures at places such as Bagnell Dam and the Callaway Nuclear Plant since power plants have been listed as potential prime targets of terrorists.
"Since I've been MDPS director these last three years, there are relationships with Ameren Missouri (which operates both plants) that allow us to be in constant contact with them about different threats that might be coming," Karsten said. "I know they have a different posture than what they had years ago towards those threats. That now includes cyber security, which is an emerging threat."
In July, Joplin suffered a ransomware attack that shut down its online services and eventually led to their insurer paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to an unknown person to keep any sensitive information accessed by the attack from being exposed.
"The federal government now requires that a certain portion of your Homeland Security funds go towards cyber security mitigation or preparedness," Karsten said.
Cellphone development over the last 20 years has also led to new ways for the public to assist law enforcement on potential security threats, Karsten said.
"SafeNation is an app that allows someone to report seeing something suspicious to authorities, and they can do so anonymously," she said. "There's an awareness that citizens have now, I believe, that they may not have had 20 years ago. We encourage people that if something doesn't look right to go ahead and report it. It may be nothing, but we do take them seriously, and we do follow up."
Karsten said they have also been looking more at potential internal security threats. Since 2014, there has been an increase in civil unrest, many times due to law enforcement agencies and their dealings with minorities.
"There are many more opportunities, if you will, to consider the safety of citizens throughout the state," she said.
Although there are many agencies that work on homeland security efforts through MPDS, Karsten said having a lot of voices involved in the process to come up with solutions is a good thing.
"We've always maintained our focus for training, but we've also been mindful of the gaps we need to address," she said. "In 2019, we began training local law enforcement and counter-terrorism officers. We saw that many of those officers weren't around when 9/11 occurred, and we needed to address that gap."
After 9/11, many felt some information that everyday citizens had access to disappeared in the name of homeland security. In Missouri, Karsten said, they have always been mindful of respecting citizens rights on homeland security matters.
"We do train officers on how to handle intelligence and on what's the difference between intelligence and information, what is actionable and what is not," she said. "All of that is blanketed with the protection of a person's civil rights."
Like most Missourians, Karsten remembers where she was on Sept. 11, 2001, which was serving as a captain on the Missouri Highway Patrol in the Human Resources Division.
"It was a Tuesday, and I was off with two young boys at the time who I had just taken to day care and school," Karsten said. "I then heard about the attacks, and I went into work to be around the people and the information as it came in. My first reaction was, 'How is this happening on U.S. soil?'
"Once you got past that, it motivated me, and it brought a renewed sense of patriotism that we should take steps that this doesn't ever happen again.
"As we learned more about how this all came about, it only increased the need for us to have the information sharing platforms we have today and understand, 'Hey we've got to put these puzzle pieces together because people are depending on us to do that," she added.
Despite all the steps that have been taken, Karsten said she wouldn't want to go as far as guaranteeing that a 9/11 couldn't happen again.
"I do think that the past 20 years have been a good testament to the steps we have taken," she said. "It's like wearing a mask now with the COVID virus. I think 20 years from now we'll have learned more about COVID and about some of the mitigation measures we have taken or should have taken, and that's the same way with 9/11.
"We took a lot of immediate reaction because we felt we had to do something. After 10 months, we started asking, 'What are we doing this for?' on some of the security measures. Right now, we need to rely on the public to let us know when something doesn't look right and to follow up on that. We also need to be inspired to take our homeland security training seriously," Karsten said.
Schroeder said he believed it was important to warn against the human tendency for complacency.
"There's a natural desire to return to the 'good old days," he said. "We're happier and less overwhelmed with stress and apprehension. Although it may feel good, we must maintain a 'see something/say something' vigilance."
"There was a renewed patriotism after 9/11 and in the last four to five years we've lost a little bit of that," Karsten added. "I hope this anniversary causes us to reflect on the fact that we need to come together as Americans, regardless of race, creed or color, to make sure we are safe."
Schroeder added: "A significant majority of the personnel within JCPD had their psyche, character, attitudes and general beliefs shaped by the events of that day.
"For those who were less than 21 years of age on 9/11, their entire adult lives were formulated without the benefit of knowing the environmental difference between pre-9/11 and post-9/11," he said. "They represent the 'see something/say something' generation. They will dictate the level of safety we enjoy in the future."
The Associated Press contributed information used in this article.