In a classic deflection move, the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) is already pointing fingers at the local police. A Secret Service spokesperson reportedly admitted they missed checking the building’s roof where the shooter positioned himself, instead tasking local law enforcement with the job. The nation’s largest police group didn’t hold back, tearing into the Secret Service for their predictable attempt to shift the blame to the local police following the attempt on former President Donald Trump’s life in Butler, Pa.
Fraternal Order of Police President Patrick Yoes fired back, reiterating that protecting presidential figures is squarely the Secret Service’s job. “Regardless of ongoing investigations,” Yoes asserted, “a man was able to obtain a shooting perch with line of sight” to the former president. Yoes clearly states that the responsibility solely rests with the Secret Service.
According to Yoes, the USSS’s primary duty is protecting and securing sites like Butler, PA. Yoes reiterated that the USSS needs help to do it and must rely on local support, even if those officers aren’t trained like the Secret Service. Yoes added that the officers only assist, and the Secret Service is responsible for ensuring the president and presidential nominees are fully protected. That means setting up perimeters, securing nearby buildings, and double-checking to ensure the area has been checked.
Yoes emphasized that the officers who responded to the shots fired at Trump acted with exceptional courage, risking their lives to protect everyone present at the event. Yoes made it clear that these brave actions were not the result of any failure on the ground level. Instead, he squarely pointed at event management for failing to address glaring security lapses, which he believes were the incident’s root cause.
Yoes cautioned that the Secret Service’s blame game, particularly over the oversight of a rooftop sniper, could backfire, especially with a high-stakes election season looming. Yoes highlighted the Secret Service’s crucial reliance on the cooperation of state and local law enforcement for the success of its mission. He underscored that this partnership is vital for ensuring security and effective operations.
Yoes expressed concern that these anonymous statements or media speculation could negatively impact the ability of federal, state, and local law enforcement to collaborate effectively. He warned that such disruptions could hinder their cooperation, especially during the demanding campaign period ahead.
The tension between the FOP and the Secret Service is palpable as investigations continue into the potentially catastrophic security breach in Butler. The FOP, boasting 373,000 members across 2,200 lodges, holds significant sway in law enforcement circles.
