The National Legislative Services and Security Association evolved from one of the more famous legislative security situations in history.
On May 2, 1967, a group of 30 Black Panthers, 24 men and six women, strode into the California Capitol, openly carrying rifles and shotguns (in accordance with California law). When the group made its way to the Assembly chamber, a number of lawmakers and staff dove for cover.
Not Tony Beard Sr., the Assembly’s chief sergeant, who The Los Angeles Times describes as “a former USC football star and Hollywood stuntman (for Clark Gable in “Gone With the Wind”), whose father had been head of the state police.
The Times quoted Beard’s son, Tony Jr., who served 34 years as the Senate’s chief sergeant-at-arms himself, in a 2007 remembrance of the incident:
"Dad came back and said, 'What do you guys want?' He said it cordially and professionally, not cop-like.
"They said, 'We want to see our Assembly representatives.'
" 'Well, you can't do it this way.' 'How do you do it?' 'You need to go out and stand behind the gate. Then we can bring a member back.'
"So they went back behind the gate. It taught me a lot about demeanor and presence.
"Of course, nobody wanted to come out of the chamber to talk to them."
The incident ended peacefully and it wasn’t long before the Legislature passed a law making it illegal to carry a firearm in the Capitol.
Beard recognized that he needed more knowledge to deal with similar situations and believed that other states’ staff members must have problems, questions and the need for training.
In 1973, the National Legislative Services and Security Association (NLSSA) was formed. Members include sergeants-at-arms, capitol police, tour directors, facilities directors and others—all focused on sharing information, learning about state trends, and providing needed services to legislators and legislative staff.
This year’s annual training conference attracted participants from 26 states and three foreign countries. Programs focused on first amendment issues, protest management, training for the unexpected, managing capitol properties, leadership and management, drones, planning for large-scale events, capitol renovation and, investigating and managing misconduct.
The 2018 National Legislative Services and Security Association’s Annual Training Conference will be held in Richmond, Virginia, Aug. 26-31, 2018.
Photos from the 2017 NLSSA training conference:
