Police Anger at Secret Service Exposed After Failed Trump Assassination Attempt

In the aftermath of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally last month, a local police officer expressed frustration over security lapses. "I expletive told them they needed to post guys expletive over here," the officer said in police body camera footage released by the Butler Township Police Department. "I told them that expletive Tuesday." When asked who he informed, he replied, "the Secret Service."

Police body camera videos, released following a public records request, reveal local law enforcement's frustration and confusion. They were baffled by how Thomas Matthew Crooks, flagged as suspicious before the shooting, managed to evade their watch, climb a roof, and open fire with an AR-style rifle at the former president. One officer remarked, "I wasn't even concerned about it because I thought someone was on the roof." Another officer responded that law enforcement personnel were inside the building.

Security Failures Under Scrutiny

Several investigations are ongoing to understand the security failures that led to the shooting. Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr., who succeeded Kimberly Cheatle after her resignation, stated he "cannot defend why that roof was not better secured." The Secret Service is responsible for areas past metal detectors, while local law enforcement handles outside perimeters. Rowe informed lawmakers last month that the Secret Service had "assumed that the state and locals had it" covered.

The Secret Service spokesperson confirmed on Friday that the agency is reviewing the body camera footage. "The U.S. Secret Service appreciates our local law enforcement partners, who acted courageously as they worked to locate the shooter that day," spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said in an email. "The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump was a U.S. Secret Service failure, and we are reviewing and updating our protective policies and procedures in order to ensure a tragedy like this never occurs again."

Local Law Enforcement's Role

Two officers from local county sniper teams were inside the complex of buildings and noticed Crooks behaving oddly. According to Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger, one officer went outside to search for Crooks while the other stayed on the second floor. However, neither officer could see Crooks on top of the adjacent building from their position.

Another video shows officers frantically searching for Crooks just before the shooting. One officer helped another climb up to the roof to investigate and spotted Crooks before running back to his car to grab his gun. The video lacks audio until the officer reaches his car, making it unclear what was said after spotting Crooks on the roof.

After Trump was struck in the ear but avoided serious injury, one spectator was killed and two others were injured. Officers are seen in one video climbing onto the roof where Crooks lay dead. Standing near his body, one officer expressed anger that police "couldn't find him." Another officer responded, "I hear you bro. But for now, I mean, he's the only one."

The acting Secret Service director mentioned that local law enforcement did not notify his agency before the shooting about an armed individual on a nearby roof. The agency is now reviewing its protective policies and procedures to prevent such incidents in the future.

This incident has highlighted significant gaps in coordination between local law enforcement and federal agencies responsible for protecting high-profile individuals. As investigations continue, both agencies aim to address these issues to enhance security measures moving forward.