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BY CAROL ARNETT

Mayor Robert Lowery has announced that, in light of the recent shootings at a Kirkwood City Council meeting, security at Florissant meetings would be increased. In addition to the council meetings, Lowery said, the city would also increase the police presence at some commission meetings, including Planning and Zoning and the Board of Appeals.

The increased security should not affect council business, Lowery said. He outlined the new security measures in an executive session with the council before the last council meeting. The city already had a metal detector at the meetings, and will continue to use it. In the past, one uniformed officer attended was in city hall for the meetings, but not always in the council chambers. Now, Lowery said, at least two officers would attend each meeting.

Only one entrance and exit will be used for the meetings, Lowery said. Everyone must exit through the hall, instead of using the doors that lead directly from the council chamber to the outside. Other doors will be locked from the outside. In addition, certain interior doors in the building will be locked during the council meetings.

Lowery did ask the council to try to leave after the council meetings. He said that he knew residents often tried to speak with the council members after the meeting, but he urged the council members to meet with the residents at another time or leave the building to continue conversations. “I’m not saying you have to be rude or run out, but please try not to linger,” Lowery said. He said this was to allow the police officers at the meetings to secure the building and return to other duties.

Hessel Talks About That Night

Also at the executive session, City Attorney John Hessel, who also serves as the Kirkwood City Attorney and was shot at during the fatal Kirkwood meeting, told the council about the night of the shootings when three others around him were killed and the Kirkwood mayor was critically wounded.

Saying he found it therapeutic to talk about it, Hessel invited the council to ask any questions. He then recounted the events of the night of the shootings. When some council members called him a hero, Hessel said he was not. “I was trying to get out,” he said. “The true heroes are the police officers who go into those situations.”

Hessel said that his life passed before his eyes, but “it was my future, not my past.” He noted that he has one daughter nearing graduation and another getting married soon, and what he thought was that he would miss those important events. “I got mad,” he said.

Hessel also said he was unsure why he was spared. Noting that Charles Thornton, the shooter, tripped over one of his victims, Hessel said “other lawyers have laughed at me for talking about divine intervention, but there was no reason for him (Thorton) to trip.”

Hessel said he was leaving in a few days for a trip to Florida. “I’m very ready for a vacation,” he said.
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