Governor Mansion alarms broken when arsonist struck

[douglas9]

Source: Houston Chronicle

AUSTIN — An alarm system designed to alert state troopers if someone penetrated the walled grounds of the Governor's Mansion was not working when an arsonist torched the 152-year-old Texas landmark, sources familiar with the mansion's security said Friday.

The system has been inoperative for at least four weeks, despite complaints by some Department of Public Safety troopers that it could imperil mansion security.

When it was working, a system beaming infrared rays would trigger an alarm alerting state troopers in a carriage house behind the mansion if an intruder had scaled a wall and reached the mansion grounds.

State Fire Marshal Paul Maldonado confirmed this week that security cameras captured video images early Sunday morning of someone lighting an object and hurling it onto the front porch.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5837230.html

[Lasher]

1. That was pretty stupid.

Somebody needs to be fired for letting the Public Safety troopers' warnings go unheeded.

[Xithras]

11. Well, the building was being remodeled.

Major remodeling projects often interrupt power, force wiring relocations, etc. It's not really all that surprising that some of the security systems had to be disabled, and it's likely not anyones fault that they couldn't just be switched back on.

[Lasher]

12. Guess the troopers were just a bunch of whiners.

Need to remodel? If something gets in the way just switch it off and don't waste time worrying about the consequences.

[tanyev]

2. I wonder if the arsonist knew.....

[Dover]

14. sure seems likely.

My immediate thought was that Perry, who plans to run for another term, doesn't want to live there in such a public high profile location. Too much scrutiny by the public, reporters, etc.
Probably prefers his hidie hole...as many Repubs do. Crawford has served a similar purpose for Bush.
And it's not like there's any sentimental attachment to our institutions or our Constitution.

At any rate, it will be a long time before the mansion is livable again.

[bluerum]

3. Sounds like Rove is covering his tracks.

[Phred42]

4. That was my first thought

[pnwmom]

6. Not mine.

Mine was the FLDS, or a vengeful supporter.

[musette_sf]

8. i'm with you

actually my first thought when i heard.

[rainbow4321]

5. And a few of the security cameras were not working

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/06/12/0612mansion.html

The revelation came as other officials acknowledged that at least two security cameras guarding the 152-year-old mansion were "not operational" when the blaze broke out, though another camera documented a shadowy figure hurling an object at the front door — immediately followed by flames. Fire department officials said there was one state trooper on duty at the mansion the morning of the fire.

<snip>


State and federal arson investigators have not made public any video taken from security cameras on or near the grounds. Nor would state officials on Wednesday publicly confirm exactly how many cameras were not working on the night of the fire, or where they were located.

[Plucketeer]

7. Aha!

I'd bet a buck to a cop's donut that that shadowy figure turns out to be "HAMMER'S PEST CONTROL". Probably Tom Delay held the contract for vermin control at the state mansion and he was simply tossing their "bargain" control package application! Of course, if pressed, one would HAVE TO admit that Tom's efforts were effective! :crazy:

[Joanne98]

9. I bet it was installed by a contractor. LOL

[Endangered Specie]

10. Im curious what things *aren't* installed by contractors?

[Dover]

13. Well let's see....

Soooooo,

As we know,
There are known knowns.
There are things we know we know.
We also know
There are known unknowns.
That is to say
We know there are some things
We do not know.
But there are also unknown unknowns,
The ones we don't know
We don't know.

Surely someone knows something.

1. The gov. was out of the country
2. The primary contents of the mansion were in storage.
3. The cameras and alarm systems were turned off or broken with a couple of exceptions (despite reported concerns from officers).
4. One guard on duty.

Either the perfect storm or something peculiar about how all the pieces fit together. Of course the motive is still in question too. Maybe we haven't heard everything yet. Will also be interesting to find out what kind of alternative housing is set up for the current and future governor. The governor's mansion is very much in the public eye at its current location near the capitol. As it is, Perry has been living in a temporary residence far out of the limelight in what I've read is a more rural setting.