Local law enforcement officers are working overtime to protect the state Capitol by screening all entrants into the building, and state Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, has said he does not like it.
According to Pocan, the Capitol Police presence is frivolous, ineffective and costs too much, $216,907 from Sept. 11 to Jan. 31, especially with the legislature facing a looming budget deficit.
Pocan highlighted the price tag for the officers' overtime when he presented the action with his monthly Golden Turkey award for worst bill, agency action or other political development on March 1.
\There really isn't a sense of security,"" he said. ""When we have a $1.1 billion deficit, it makes more sense to eliminate this type of presence.""
Officials are stationed at the three entrances to the Capitol and check the coats and bags of anyone entering the building unless they present an ID showing employment at the Capitol. No weapons or serious incidents have been averted due to their presence, according to Pocan.
Capitol Police Officer Steve Kneeland, who works a security detail at the building, said he is just following orders.
""All I know is I come out here, I get assigned a post and I have certain duties during the day,"" he said. ""I check people coming in basically for weapons or something that's going to harm somebody else, and I try to prevent that from coming in.""
The presence is a result of a federal directive that instructed the state to take steps to provide additional security for its buildings.
""[The security] occurs every day, all day, ever since Sept. 11,"" Kneeland said.
The directive ends March 11. Pocan said he feels this should provide an opportunity to explore other means of protection.
""There is no way you can fully safe guard the building,"" he said. ""This way really doesn't address any kind of security and especially with the directive about to expire I think it would be timely to address this now.\
