Steve Burns
WMAL.com

ROCKVILLE – (WMAL) The Montgomery County Council is looking over a resolution to enhance security measures at the County Council chambers and office building on Maryland Avenue in Rockville. It doesn’t come as a result of any specific threat, but has been in the works for months, Council President Roger Berliner said.

“We need to make sure that we’re protecting the people who work in the building and the people who visit this building,” Berliner said. “This is an ongoing evaluation of ‘how do we make sure the people that work here, the people that visit here, are protected?'”

Berliner maintained the resolution is in no way a reaction to what he called the increase in vitriolic language in the wake of the alleged rape at Rockville High School, nor is it in relation to any specific threats.

“At every one of our council retreats every year, this conversation has come up,” Berliner said. Colleagues have also expressed safety concerns, he said.

Two armed police officers were seen at last week’s council meeting, but Berliner said they may want to go beyond that, possibly to bring in airport-style scanning machines. They are currently in use a few mile south at the Wilson Building, where the District’s council meets.

“This is a reality of life now,” Berliner said. “We have to not put our heads in the sand and not have a situation arise where we are putting people at risk.”

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