Slain officers Gibson, left, and Chestnut

July 22, 1999
Web posted at: 5:48 p.m. EDT (2148 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Nearly a year ago, Russell E. Weston Jr. allegedly entered the U.S. Capitol with a group of tourists, stormed a security checkpoint and killed two guards.

Weston was charged in a six-count indictment with the July 24, 1998, murders of police officers Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson, the attempted murder of a third officer and three firearms violations.

A judge ruled in April that Weston was incompetent to stand trial. He was taken to a federal medical facility for further evaluation, and a status hearing is set for September 9.

After the shootings, Congress vowed to beef up security, construct a new visitors' center and require visitors to enter a security checkpoint as far as a block away from the building.

But, most security improvements are still a work in progress and most of the $106 million Congress appropriated for the improvements has yet to be spent.

Changes include new magnetometers at entrances, where two officers are now posted instead of one. And two patrol cars have been outfitted with night-vision systems.

Two Capitol patrol cars have been equipped with night-vision equipment

But new, high-caliber weapons are still on order, and bulletproof vests are still being selected.

Slow change

"It takes time to conduct all these studies and purchase these types of weapons ... same with body armor," said Capitol Police Sgt. Michael Schmidt.

With 1,100 officers, the department considers itself short- staffed, and plans to add 240 officers. So far, only 24 have joined its ranks.

Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tennessee, a surgeon who tended to those shot in the Capitol, said he is not troubled.

"The fact that there have not been dramatic changes apparent to everybody, I think that says a lot about the system ... that in truth the system did work," Frist said.

Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, whom Gibson was assigned to protect, said the anniversary makes him reflect on things other than safety.

"It raises the level of emptiness that you feel for the loss of a good friend," DeLay said.

Delay and others say the Capitol, also known as "the people's house," should remain open and accessible.

CNN's Kathleen Koch contributed to this report.

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