Pennsylvania Governor's Residence to Install Anti-Climb Fence

An "anti-climb fence" is being planned for the perimeter of the Pennsylvania governor's official residence, according to the state police commissioner. This comes just under a month since someone breached the current fencing one night, entered the house, and set off a destructive blaze.

Colonel Christopher Paris’s correspondence with state legislators highlighted modifications aimed at enhancing safety measures at the brick residence in Harrisburg, which serves as the official dwelling for Governor Josh Shapiro and his household; this included the installation of a fence.

The suspected trespasser, who is an out-of-work welder, is facing accusations such as attempted murder and arson related to the blaze that occurred around 2 a.m. on April 13. Shapiro along with family members were roused from their sleep and had to be moved elsewhere several hours post attending a Passover Seder within the premises. Fortunately, nobody sustained injuries; however, the property damage has reportedly reached into the millions of dollars range.

Paris informed legislators that he has no plans to furnish them with a security assessment carried out by consultant Jeffrey B. Miller, who formerly headed the state police roughly twenty years back.

Paris informed the lawmakers that Miller’s discoveries and their organization’s investigation led to modifications in protocols, such as "increased frequency of security evaluations," setting up a specialized unit for managing building safety at the residence, and erecting an anti-climbing barrier.

Metal and brick barriers approximately 7 feet (2 meters) tall already encircle the dwelling situated near the Susquehanna River, roughly one mile (1.6 kilometers) away from the Capitol building. As of Tuesday afternoon, construction on the additional fencing didn’t seem to be initiated yet; however, tiny indicator flags placed around the site’s boundary suggested preparatory activities were happening.

"While certain enhancements will indeed be evident to the general populace—like the installation of the new anti-climb fencing—a significant number won’t," Paris stated. He mentioned that Miller’s report included information regarding security measures which, if made available publicly, "could undoubtedly compromise the safety" of individuals under the agency's protection.