- The Washington Times - Friday, April 17, 2015

The National Park Service and the Secret Service plan to begin installing “anti-climb” fencing at the White House complex by summer of fall 2016.

Also known as “pencil protrusions,” the fencing may be approved by the National Capital Planning Commission by May 7.

“The United States Secret Service and National Park Service take the security of the White House grounds seriously and are working hand-in-hand to develop an appropriate barrier that will satisfy the individual missions of each agency, which include ensuring the security of the White House and its occupants, while keeping the White House and grounds as accessible as possible to the public,” an NPS spokesman told CBS News on Friday.

The spokesman added that NPS and the Secret Service are working “as quickly as possible” to implement the new security measure.

On Sept. 19, Omar Gonzalez, 43, jumped the White House face and dashed into the executive mansion. He pleaded guilty in March to two federal charges connected to the incident: one count of unlawfully entering a restricted building or grounds, while carrying a deadly or dangerous weapon; and one count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees.

• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.

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