Catastrophic Failure: Secret Service Blamed for Trump Rally Shooting

The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) has condemned the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) for its security response to the assassination attempt on former President Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

The FOP President, Patrick Yoes, expressed his outrage over the "security failure" that nearly cost the former president his life. He noted that the roof of the building, from which the gunman fired shots, should have been secured by law enforcement but was not.

Yoes praised the heroism of the Secret Service agents and other officers on the scene, who saved Trump's life. However, he emphasized that the incident exposed a significant security lapse.

Catastrophic Failure: Secret Service Blamed for Trump Rally Shooting

According to Yoes, the Secret Service is "stretched thin" due to its new responsibilities and lack of manpower. He warned that the upcoming election will pose an extraordinary challenge for the agency, as they must protect candidates at sites across the nation.

Yoes expressed concern that anonymous comments from unknown officials could damage trust between Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies, hindering their ability to work together effectively during the grueling campaign.

Catastrophic Failure: Secret Service Blamed for Trump Rally Shooting

He also noted that President Biden has ordered an independent investigation into the assassination attempt, with support from the Department of Homeland Security. Congress has also initiated its own investigation.

Yoes stated that the failure lies with the management or command level, which failed to secure an obvious weakness in the security. He added that the shooter should never have had access to the roof.

Catastrophic Failure: Secret Service Blamed for Trump Rally Shooting

An unnamed Secret Service spokesperson revealed that the agency did not check the roof of the building, but they believed local law enforcement was responsible for sweeping it. However, local officers were reportedly not present in the area.

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle expressed her condolences to the victim's family and friends and pledged to work with all involved agencies to prevent such an incident from happening again.

Catastrophic Failure: Secret Service Blamed for Trump Rally Shooting

The Secret Service emphasized that its personnel moved quickly to neutralize the shooter and protect Trump. They also vowed to cooperate fully with the independent review and Congressional oversight.

The FOP's criticism has sparked a national debate on the adequacy of security measures at political rallies. Law enforcement experts have called for improved coordination between Federal and local agencies, as well as comprehensive security assessments for all potential venues.

Catastrophic Failure: Secret Service Blamed for Trump Rally Shooting