In a file photo from June 18, 2018, law enforcement officers block protesters from entering the Statehouse, citing security concerns. Democratic lawmakers now want to know why officers are not allowed under state law to bar people with concealed firearms as well.

TOPEKA — Kansas legislative leaders said Wednesday that they want more information about when security officials can lock people out of the Statehouse and who has the authority to make such a decision.

During a meeting Wednesday of the Legislative Coordinating Council, comprising the top Republican and Democratic leaders from both chambers of the Legislature, House Minority Leader Jim Ward, of Wichita, said he was concerned when officers locked the public entrance doors to the Visitors Center on June 18, preventing a group of protesters, as well as others, from entering the building.

“I’d like to find out why that happened and what the policies and procedures are for locking down the Capitol and who triggers that process,” Ward said during the meeting.

The incident occurred during a demonstration by a group calling itself the Poor People’s Campaign, which staged protests and civil disobedience actions at the Statehouse each week for six consecutive weeks. At each event, a number of protesters were arrested for refusing to disperse.

The demonstration on June 18 began with a rally on the south lawn of the Statehouse. Following that, the demonstrators marched around to the north side of the building, toward the public entrance, where they were met by law enforcement officers who said the group did not have a permit to stage an event in the building and they would not be allowed to enter.

About a dozen people went around the officers and entered the building anyway. But when they got inside, they found that a second set of doors leading to security stations and the Visitors Center had been locked. Eleven people were arrested for refusing to leave. Meanwhile, other visitors who were not part of the protest were also delayed in being allowed in.

“I think we should have a policy or some sort of direction on why that happens,” Ward said.

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, of Topeka, said he was in the building that day and didn’t know the doors had been locked until he tried to exit and encountered a woman knocking on the door, trying to get in.

“I don’t know if that woman was part of the Poor People’s Campaign or not,” Hensley said. “She might have just been a tourist who wanted inside the Capitol building, so I think it’d be very appropriate for us to take a look at what the policy is and really understand when the Capitol Police feel it’s necessary to lock up the Visitors Center.”

House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., R-Olathe, said he wanted answers to those questions as well.

“It’s obviously the people’s house. We also need to see the policies and procedures that also protect the people who are in the people’s house,” Ryckman said.

The council directed Tom Day, director of Legislative Administrative Services, to prepare a report to be presented at a future LCC meeting. The date for that meeting has not been determined.