Minn. counties rethink security after Little Falls incident
by The Associated Press

ST. CLOUD -- County government officials in central Minnesota are rethinking their security procedures after a man interrupted a meeting in Morrison County and held people hostage.

Many area courthouses have installed metal detectors that visitors must pass through. But most administration buildings have been left open to encourage public participation.

Jim Mulder, who directs the Association of Minnesota Counties, says many counties have older buildings with multiple doors that would be costly to secure.

He says security has been heightened at court buildings, but not in buildings where county board meetings are held.

Mulder says county officials are thinking about Tuesday's incident in Morrison County in which the gunman was eventually shot by officers responding to the county boardroom. He says the incident could cause county officials to devise better security strategies to prevent copycat attacks.