Security is tighter than ever in Abilene -- and officials don't envision safety efforts to lighten up anytime soon.

Twenty years ago, the perception in smaller cities like Abilene was terrorism only happened in "big cities and somewhere else," Abilene Christian University Police Chief Jimmy Ellison said.

"Nowadays you can't even falsely assume that," Ellison said. "It's real now. I think the vast majority of people realize it can happen anywhere."

City, county, public school and college leaders say efforts will continue to attempt to improve security in buildings and to keep up with the latest technology to better alert people during times of emergency.

Last week, an upgraded security system -- with airport-like metal detectors and a closed-circuit camera system -- was activated in the Taylor County Courthouse. At that time, County Judge George Newman said the courthouse was constructed in 1972 with accessibility rather than security in mind and that the changes are needed to catch up with present-day needs.

Numerous shootings have taken place in recent years inside courthouses across the country, though none in Abilene. In the past, for potentially volatile cases, Taylor County officials have beefed up manpower at the courthouse.

"We've postponed it as long as we can," Newman said, noting the county began looking at changes to courthouse security because of concerns of judges, prosecutors and other criminal justice officials.

Ellison, who had a 17-year career in municipal law enforcement in Beaumont, said society has come to expect a higher degree of protection and government and entities have to stay up with those expectations.

"It's a challenge, a never-ending challenge," Ellison said.

While the vast majority of school campuses and courthouses won't have to endure a "headline incident," Ellison said efforts must be made to be ready should such an incident occur.

"You have to be prepared for the day the headline does come your way." Ellison said. "You have to plan for it and expect it." The city of Abilene plans to install a card-reading system for employees to use identification badges to access City Hall during off hours and selected parts of the building during the workday.

Jim Bryan, the city's emergency management coordinator, said the ID system should be in use in a "few months."

In addition to photographing and requiring ID badges for all city employees and installing card-readers at City Hall, the city will also look at having card-readers at all city buildings. The system will allow the city to monitor the comings and goings of individuals around City Hall.

Down the road during Phase 2 of the security work, city officials are looking at installing surveillance cameras and possibly putting a receptionist on the first floor. Other possibilities include metal detectors and installing the security badge system in all city buildings.

"Way down the list might be metal detectors," Bryan said.

In the Abilene Independent School District, school officials continue to look for ways to ensure safety.

"Last year we implemented a V-soft program that scans all visitors' ID's through a sex offender database," said Steve Post, AISD's director of student services.

In addition, Post said, all campuses annually review their emergency plans and implement any recommended security changes.

"We do not have any plans for metal detectors at the campuses, but in the last bond election, security cameras were included for every campus but unfortunately that proposal failed," Post said.

However, Post said, AISD has an alarm system in place for after-hour security. Also at all secondary campuses, he said, AISD has Student Resource Officers who are police officers that "we partner with APD to help us provide for student safety."

"We hope in the near future we can install security cameras and we are always reviewing our operational procedures in an effort to make our campuses more secure," Post said.

AISD also conducted a district safety audit where school resource officers and school administrators made unannounced visits to district campuses -- other than where they worked -- to assess school security, said Charles Perkins, assistant superintendent for support services.

"The results of these safety audits will be shared with each campus," Perkins said. "This process is a useful tool in strengthening security around the district."

On college campuses, Ellison said, parents now expect campuses to have high levels of security measures in place.

In recent years, Ellison said, ACU has increased the number of emergency call phones and incrementally installed cameras across campus, which not only act as a crime deterrent but also as an investigative tool. Additionally, ACU has instituted an emergency text messaging system for crime and weather that, with one push of a button, can send out emergency alerts to up to 10,000 people, he said.

ACU isn't alone among Abilene's universities in taking steps to be ready for potential incidents.

"We've had to become much more aware of the need for increased security -- it's unfortunate, but clearly called for in light of events of the past few years," said Michael Whitehorn, senior vice president for student development at Hardin-Simmons University.

HSU started using a mass notification system to "supplement existing security protocols" in February.

"We've tested it a couple of times, and it appears to be effective in reaching students, faculty, and staff quickly when needed," Whitehorn said, adding that HSU has a police force of six officers trained to be alert for "any indications of danger on or near campus."

Furthermore, Whitehorn said, HSU trains its residence hall directors, resident assistants, and staff on how to respond to a variety of emergency situations. Fire drills are held, and HSU spends time during new student orientation emphasizing "the importance of being aware and alert to situations and people on campus which might pose danger to our residents."

HSU encourages students to come for counseling if they have problems, and to inform authorities of classmates who may need help but aren't seeking it, Whitehorn said.

"I don't have a ready explanation for the violence we've seen through our country recently," Whitehorn said. "It would be easy to blame television, the movies, the Internet, or many other things, but I believe we're all still responsible for the choices we make. Terrorist attacks by fanatics aside, much of the violence has been committed by only a small number of people."