Learning from the past: Should the Mayor use security detail at public events?

This week, Anthony J. Peters plead not guilty by reason of mental defect to charges that he beat Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. After the recent attack on Barrett outside of the Wisconsin State Fair, questions have been raised as to why the Mayor did not have a security detail with him. While this question fails to consider the fact that the Mayor's brave and heroic acts likely prevented a serious or even life-threatening injury to the assailant's one-year-old child and that child's grandmother, it does bring up the issue of whether public officials in a city as large as Milwaukee should be required to take a security detail with them to public events or any event where there could be potential security risks. In this case, we have all since learned that the City of Milwaukee's policy is to have security available to the Mayor but that he is not required to use that security detail at all times.

In a time where there are increased concerns about our nation’s own homeland security, the question has no good answer as we all try to strike balance in our lives between safety and personal freedom. In this case, the Mayor has obviously taken an oath to serve the residents of this community to the best of his abilities, and such service is compromised when there is a threat of serious or fatal injury. This particular case is unique in that it was not a targeted attack on the Mayor but instead a random act of violence by an individual with an ostensible host of issues. Can we ever completely protect our high-level civil servants from random acts of violence? Unfortunately, the answer is probably not but this doesn't get past the point that in this particular case, Milwaukee could have lost its Mayor. While his life is no more valuable than that of any other citizen, he holds a position that some believe deserves a certain level of security.

What are your thoughts? Should the Mayor of a city the size of Milwaukee be required to have a security detail for all public appearances?