WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Luzerne County officials placed large rocks outside the county-owned Penn Place building to stop potential crooks from ramming the building with a vehicle.
Placing boulders by the building, which houses the county election department, was a the recommendation proffered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, County Manager Romilda Crocamo said.
"This is a measure taken to safeguard staff, the public and the ballots," Crocamo said.
The agency and the county participated in a security assessment this summer.
"Although the facility had some obstruction to high-speed avenues, an option that would benefit the safety of the building would be the placement of barriers to prevent vehicle ramming and improve stand-distance," Crocamo said in a statement. "Following the inspection, I requested they identify potential risks and concerns. One of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security recommendations was boulders, which we adopted."