Attendees and officials assured that they're safe at City Council meetings
By Nancy Needham  nancy@theacorn.com

Thousand Oaks Police Chief Dennis Carpenter appeared before the Thousand Oaks City Council Feb. 12 to assure those who attend the local meetings that they are safe.

His assurances came in response to a Feb. 8 shooting at a City Council meeting in Kirkwood, Mo., which resulted in the deaths of two police officers and three council members.

The gunman was shot and killed by police during the attack in the St. Louis suburb. Later it was said he'd been irate over council activity that involved him and his business.

After the tragic events in Missouri, Carpenter said, he felt he should comment on security at the City Council meetings in Thousand Oaks.

"You always have a police officer here at your meetings," Carpenter said, indicating that either he or Thousand Oaks Police Capt. Randy Pentis is in attendence.

City hall is a safe place for people to come and do business, he said.

The two officers sometimes bring backup when they know an issue before the council is an emotional one or one that will bring large crowds. The extra officers aren't always in uniform; sometimes they're wearing civilian clothes, and only the police chief and the city manager know who they are, Carpenter said.

He and Pentis bring phones to call for help if necessary, Carpenter said.

Officers have trained regularly to respond to what the police chief called an "active shooter" since 1999, when two gunmen killed 13 people at Columbine High School in Colorado. Thousand Oaks police and other public servants recently conducted a drill at California Lutheran University, where such a shooting was simulated.

Carpenter said that he and the city manager will discuss safety plans for the future, including library security, planning commission meetings, evacuation routes and metal detectors.

"Of course we are fortunate enough to live in one of the safest cities in our nation, but we know by past events, at least during my tenure here, we've had our share of deaths as a result of homicide, and we certainly want to avoid such events . . . whether it's at city hall or any other place in our city," Carpenter said.