The Missouri Capitol received bomb threats that went unreported, KC-area lawmakers say
The Missouri Capitol received bomb threats last year that Capitol Police did not report to state lawmakers or the general public, the leaders of the Missouri General Assembly revealed this week.
The revelation came in a letter from House Speaker Jonathan Patterson of Lee’s Summit and Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin of Shelbina. The letter, obtained by The Star, was sent to Capitol Police Chief Zim Schwartze on Wednesday and questioned security measures at the state Capitol.
“These concerns include recent admissions that some members of the public are not screened when entering the Capitol, imposing ambiguous screening requirements on Capitol staff, and bomb threats being made during legislative session without notice to either legislative body,” the letter said.
Kansas City-area lawmakers are raising concerns about Capitol security as large crowds are expected to descend on Jefferson City for Monday’s inauguration of Gov.-elect Mike Kehoe. Lawmakers held a largely closed-door committee hearing on Thursday to question Schwartze about the bomb threats and security for the inauguration.
The letter, however, did not indicate that there were any active threats related to the upcoming inauguration.
Rep. Mark Sharp, a Kansas City Democrat on the committee, said he was concerned about Monday, particularly after the February shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory parade.
“I was at the Chiefs parade. I’m always concerned,” Sharp said. “I’ve been around too many shootings growing up and…I’m just worried.”
The letter from Patterson and O’Laughlin did not include new details about the alleged bomb threats. However, Sharp said that nothing came of them.
A spokesperson for O’Laughlin’s office said the threats occurred on Jan. 12, 2024, March 12, 2024 and Sept. 17, 2024. The revelation comes roughly a year after at least six state capitols across the country were forced to evacuate on Jan. 3, 2024 because of bomb threats.
Mike O’Connell, a spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Public Safety, which oversees the Capitol Police, said the department could not provide more details about Schwartze’s testimony to the committee because it was closed to the public.
“The safety of legislators, staff and visitors to the Capitol and Capitol Complex are the highest priority of Missouri Capitol Police,” O’Connell said.
Capitol Police officers, he said, handle roughly 500 to 700 events each year, including protests. The department also investigates all threats at the Capitol and works with other law enforcement agencies such as the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
This work includes coordination based on real world events, such as a September exercise based on how to respond to the discovery of a suspicious package at the Capitol, he said.
“Chief Schwartze and MCP look forward to working with all stakeholders involved in continuing to advance security at the Capitol and Capitol Complex,” he said.
House Minority Leader Ashley Aune, a Kansas City Democrat, said she thinks Capitol Police are incredible at the difficult job of keeping the building secure, referencing the fact that Missouri allows concealed carry permit holders to bring firearms into the building.
“That said, not being aware of bomb threats, active threats to the Capitol while we are in there working as a legislative body is concerning,” she said.
Lawmakers sacrifice a lot of time away from their families and communities and deserve to be notified of threats at work, she said.
Lawmakers question security
On Thursday, the Joint Committee on Capitol Security questioned Schwartze about the threats and urged greater transparency between police and lawmakers. Outgoing Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten also attended the hearing.
Sen. Rick Brattin, who was appointed chair of the committee, signaled that Capitol Police have implemented policy changes without notifying state lawmakers who work in the building.
“These actions have often been ambiguous and have taken no notice to members of the Missouri General Assembly,” said Brattin, a Harrisonville Republican.
After being questioned about security measures ahead of Monday’s inauguration, Schwartze assured the committee that police and law enforcement agencies had coordinated a plan. The groups have also been working with the Governor’s Office, she said.
“There is a very comprehensive plan and we’ve been meeting regularly, as well as having a lot of phone calls and a lot of emails,” she said.
The committee closed the rest of the meeting to the public to discuss the specific security plan and concerns about the bomb threats.
While Sharp said he was concerned about Monday, he added that it sounded like the officials with the Capitol Police were “doing everything they can” to protect the inauguration.
“It really sounds like they’re doing everything they can do, working in conjunction with other departments,” he said.
This story was originally published January 10, 2025 at 3:20 PM.
