SEMO unveils new safety measures following Cape Central graduation shooting

Medical personnel attend to a gunshot victim May 19 outside the Show Me Center on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. Two people sustained non-life-threatening injuries after one person fired one shot following an altercation inside the venue during Cape Central High School's graduation ceremony.

Christopher Borro ~ cborro@semissourian.com, file

Southeast Missouri State University announced Monday, Aug. 5, the completion of a full assessment of its safety policies and procedures in the wake of a shooting at the Show Me Center during Cape Central High School’s graduation May 19.

SEMO reported May 22 that an initial assessment was complete and it would review its safety policies. On Monday, the university announced it will implement new protocols for the 2024-25 academic year, which include the installation of additional security cameras throughout campus, the use of portable weapons detection systems at the Show Me Center, Houck Field, the River Campus and other events on an as-needed basis, expansion of the clear bag policy from just athletic events to all events and limiting designated entrances to buildings on campus.

“SEMO will also increase the presence of our (Department of Public Safety) police officers at events taking place on campus,” SEMO president Carlos Vargas said in a news release. “The safety of our students, faculty, staff and visitors to our campus remains a top priority, and we are hopeful these new security protocols can strengthen campus safety.”

The university also conducted building assessments with teams from its Department of Public Safety, Facilities Management and Information Technology that worked with building coordinators to “evaluate facilities and strengthen safety measures.”

“As a result of this assessment, we will be taking action on several measures to enhance security in University facilities and at events,” Vargas said. “Among those will be additional security cameras, weapons detection systems, expansion of the clear bag policy, and other augmented safety measures with the SEMO Department of Public Safety.”