Smithsonian National Zoo and D.C. city officials are working together to increase security measures, possibly including metal detectors, for big events. The changes in security detail are due to several violent incidents in recent years. In April 2014, two men were shot just outside of the zoo during the Easter Monday family event. A safety plan has been drafted by Zoo Director Dennis Kelly. He stated that they are going to be implementing access control similar to what a person would see at museums and sporting events. The safety measures will be enacted mainly on “high visitation days” like Easter Monday and Brew at the Zoo. Random bag checks and visitor screening will be conducted by safety officials, and may, in some cases, include metal detectors. D.C. Council Member Mary Cheh met with Kelly and other officials to go over the safety plan. She commented that their aim is to keep the zoo open to the public.
