County building gets scanners in the wake of shootings

HERNANDO — Door-size walk-through scanners soon will stand guard just inside the two rotunda entrances to the DeSoto County Administration Building to bolster security at the busy facility in downtown Hernando.

County administrator Vanessa Lynchard tells The Commercial Appeal no particular local incident led to the move, but the backdrop of the Aurora, Colo., movie theater and Newtown, Conn., school massacres last year has made security a concern across the county.

In December, the DeSoto Board of Supervisors agreed to allocate $6,358 for a scanner and setup at each of the first floor’s rotunda entrances.

Supervisor Mark Gardner of Southaven said he understands that submitting to a scanner may be an inconvenience for some, but it’s for everyone’s safety.