Jess Anderson, commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety, said barriers around the Utah State Capitol were part of ongoing security measures that began in 2008 and have been expanded in response to domestic incidents and national trends.

"All the way back to 2008, we started making some provisions on the capital and the security and safety measures," Anderson said in a podcast interview. She said some barriers were installed so staff could "better manage what comes in and out of that complex" and to prevent "attempted attack or otherwise nefarious activity coming into the building." Anderson emphasized the department’s role in protecting the capitol, the legislature and the governor.

Anderson said the Department of Public Safety has broadened its remit in recent years to include new divisions such as emergency medical services regulation and school safety. She noted that when the department studied places of violence, about 68% of active-shooter situations occurred in places of commerce rather than at schools or workplaces, a factor that influenced initial focus areas.

Why it matters: Physical security changes at the state capitol reflect a post-2008 evolution in protective measures and a response to national incidents. Anderson framed the steps as part of the department’s statutory responsibility to protect government functions and officials.

She did not provide engineering specifications, vendor names, procurement details, or exact dates for each barrier installation during the interview.