Pennsylvania law enforcement officials are accusing acting Secret Service Director Robert Rowe of misleading the American people by saying that local snipers at Donald Trump’s rally should have “looked left” and spotted would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks. Beaver County District Attorney Nate Bible and Det. Patrick Young of the Beaver County Emergency Services Unit stated that the Secret Service did not reach out to Beaver County’s snipers before making accusations at a Senate hearing. They claimed that the Secret Service is falsely blaming other law enforcement agencies for the failure to stop Crooks, and the trust between the agencies has been fractured.
The tensions between local law enforcement officials and the Secret Service have heightened since the shooting incident at the Trump rally. Despite being part of the multi-jurisdictional team assisting the Secret Service, Beaver County officials felt misrepresented by Rowe’s statements and the photos he presented to lawmakers. The officials expressed concerns about the Secret Service’s handling of the situation and the lack of communication and collaboration between agencies. Trump has expressed intentions to return to Butler, Pennsylvania, for another rally, but the county officials have not been contacted by the Secret Service or the campaign regarding future plans.
During a Senate hearing, Rowe highlighted failures in communication and positioning of local law enforcement during the rally, claiming that they should have had a clear line of sight of Crooks on the roof where he fired shots. However, Beaver County officials disputed these claims, stating that the photos displayed at the hearing did not accurately capture the snipers’ vantage point. They mentioned that the snipers were instructed to remain covert and could not have seen Crooks without exposing themselves, as the photos suggested. The officials spoke out to correct misinformation and defend their actions in light of the accusations from the Secret Service.
Beaver County officials clarified that their snipers were stationed behind screens on windows to remain hidden while observing the rally attendees. They emphasized the instructions given to the snipers to focus on the secured area in front of them, not the unsecured area where Crooks was located. Despite challenges in visibility and communication, one of the snipers identified Crooks early on and shared information through the local command center. The actions of the snipers, particularly Greg Nicol, potentially prevented further harm by alerting the Secret Service to the suspicious individual and allowing them to respond swiftly.
The Secret Service has not responded to requests for comments on the incident and the accusations made by Beaver County officials. The federal law enforcement official familiar with the matter claimed that the Secret Service had been in touch with the lead for the Butler Emergency Services Unit, overseeing local law enforcement officers that day. Questions remain about the handling of security at future rallies and the coordination between law enforcement agencies to prevent similar incidents from occurring. The controversy surrounding the rally shooting highlights the need for improved communication and collaboration among all agencies involved in ensuring public safety.
