A report released by the Secret Service revealed that the local police team responsible for the security at a rally attended by ex-President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a shooter fired shots at Trump, had not communicated with the Secret Service prior to the incident. The report highlighted errors in planning and coordination between agencies that allowed the shooter, Thomas Crooks, to carry out the assassination attempt. The local police departments involved were not named in the report, which also noted the absence of communication with the Secret Service’s counter sniper asset team responsible for neutralizing threats. Some officials were placed on leave as a result of the investigation into the incident. Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe acknowledged the failures on July 13 and emphasized the need to learn from the incident to prevent future security breaches. The report also attributed the security lapse to a “high operational tempo” due to increased security demands, including providing protection for Vice President Kamala Harris and preparing for political conventions. Rowe reassured that both current and former presidents receive the same level of Secret Service protection. He commended an agent who recently thwarted a potential threat at a golf course where Trump was playing, noting that the agent acted according to training. The report suggested that leadership may receive recommendations for improvement in the future.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com