Minnesota Capitol to add 20 officers, threats investigator as threats surge
Facing a surge in threats — roughly 50 reported in under 10 months this year, with 13 leading to charges and on pace to triple 2024’s 19 — Minnesota’s Capitol will add 20 security officers (training begins mid‑ to late‑November) and a dedicated threats investigator by year‑end. Since August all but four public entrances have been closed, further enhancements and a legislative vote on additional security changes are expected in February, while the building still lacks metal detectors and allows firearms, a policy Republicans are not backing to change.
Local Government
Public Safety
📌 Key Facts
- Minnesota Capitol Security will add 20 new officers; training is scheduled to begin in mid-to-late November and Lt. Col. Jeremy Geiger confirmed the training and deployment timeline.
- A dedicated threats investigator will be added to the Capitol security team by the end of the year.
- Since August, all but four public entrances to the Capitol complex have been closed; further security enhancements are planned ahead of a legislative vote expected in February.
- Threat reports have surged this year: 50 threats have been reported in under 10 months (compared with 19 in all of 2024), putting threats on pace to triple year-over-year; 13 of this year’s cases have led to criminal charges.
- Minnesota is one of 13 states without Capitol metal detectors and one of 16 that allow guns in the Capitol; Republican lawmakers are not backing a change to the firearms policy.
📚 Contextual Background
- Minnesota House Republican leaders Speaker Lisa Demuth (R–Cold Spring) and House Floor Leader Representative Harry Niska (R–Ramsey) said their party would favorably consider, during a special legislative session, bills related to improving school and student safety, improving mental-health access and funding, and improving public safety, without proposing additional statewide gun restrictions.
- At that news conference, Minnesota doctors called for a statewide ban on assault-style weapons, a statewide ban on high-capacity magazines, a statewide requirement that firearms be stored locked and unloaded and separate from ammunition, and the removal of the current prohibition on local municipalities enacting firearm regulations stricter than the state.
📰 Sources (2)
Minnesota Capitol security tightens as Minnesota faces rising threats
New information:
- Capitol Security will add 20 new officers, with training to begin in mid to late November.
- A dedicated threats investigator will be added by the end of the year.
- Since August, all but four public entrances to the Capitol complex have been closed; further enhancements are planned ahead of February.
- Threats are on pace to triple from 2024’s 19 cases; 50 threats have been reported in under 10 months this year, with 13 leading to criminal charges.
- A legislative vote on additional security changes is expected in February.
- Quote from Lt. Col. Jeremy Geiger confirming training and deployment timeline for the new officers.
- Minnesota is one of 13 states without Capitol metal detectors and one of 16 that allow guns in the Capitol; Republicans are not backing a change to the firearms policy.