Quick reaction to the terrorist attacks on 9/11 brought new security measures to state government buildings throughout Missouri, some of which remain in place today.
Walk-through metal detectors, concrete barriers and a more attentive atmosphere were all included in Missouri's approach to security in the post-9/11 era.
Mike O'Connell, communications director for the Missouri Department of Public Safety, said one of the biggest changes to state government building security since the 9/11 attacks has been their sense of openness.
Prior to the attacks, O'Connell said, the public was fairly free to roam about in most state buildings.
Now, offices are more secure, and there's an expectation that those entering a state government building have an appointment or scheduled meeting.
"If you go to the health building, you're going to check in with somebody, and they're going to see if you have an appointment before you come in. So that's kind of the more modernized way of doing it," O'Connell said.
Immediately after 9/11, the state established security metal detectors and concrete barriers - which later became permanent bollards - at the Truman Building, O'Connell said.
The Truman Building is a state office building with more than 2,100 state employees.
O'Connell said concrete jersey barriers were put in place to secure the area around the building, which would help prevent cars from driving into it, among other threats.
The temporary barriers typically used in road construction sites were eventually replaced with permanent bollards, the concrete columns stationed at the front entrance.
O'Connell said the Missouri Highway Patrol and Missouri State Water Patrol, which has since been folded into MSHP, were called into service to assist Capitol Police with the security metal detectors.
Capt. John Hotz, director of the public information and education division of MSHP, recalled working with other state agencies in 2001.
"We worked with Capitol Police and several other state agencies to temporarily provide additional security measures at many state-owned buildings," Hotz said. "Many of these buildings put additional permanent security measures in place."
Hotz said MSHP doesn't provide specific security details, but it also increased security measures at its own facilities that remain today.
Metal detectors were also installed at the Capitol after 9/11, but they were removed in 2003 to cut costs.
The state then spent $415,000 in early 2017 to install three walk-through metal detector and x-ray stations and purchase 25 metal detector wands and badge scanners for doors, which remain in use.
"That was controversial in the beginning because there were people who said that - legislators among them - that people should have access to their government and their legislators," O'Connell said. "That changed under the (Eric) Greitens administration, but you used to be able to just walk right in."
The Truman Building metal detectors dropped off within a few months of being deployed, O'Connell said.
These initial security measures were immediate reactions as the nation tried to better understand security threats and potential targets, he said.
"Just as with everything else, it became a little bit more thoughtful afterwards," O'Connell said. "The idea was that it was very reactive initially and then they thought about it and figured out what we needed to do realistically, and so then those went away, but the bollards stayed."
O'Connell said the state, along with the rest of the country, began considering what was important, what likely targets were and how preventative measures could realistically deter threats.
"These were the types of things that were done in many places, not just Missouri," O'Connell said.
No matter which government building you're in, Hotz offered some advice.
"The patrol encourages everyone in Missouri to stay aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious activity," he said. "Missourians can report suspected dangerous activity by using the SafeNation App."