Multiple Secret Service Agents Placed on Leave

[WR Moore]

It doesn’t require a trained and experienced SS planner to take a 30 second look around an event site to discover that there is an obvious building with a big roof 150 yards away that would make a great perch for a sniper. Any 20-YO kid could do that. And did.

Uh, yeah, but we're shooters. A great many folks in LE really aren't and look at things very differently than we do. Especially depending upon their work before they entered LE. This is especially true for threats beyond close range.

It also requires a different mindset. One has to think like an adversary. That can be a greater adjustment than many would think. Especially if the adversary is sufficiently dedicated.

I'm sure there's some class where they cover some of this in training. But, that was how long ago and the local agents were pursuing paper crimes since training. Chasing people who make bogus money doesn't produce many active shooters. Neither does checking out the local crackpots who write threatening letters to the President. I'm not sure what else the Secret Service does.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I have a friend, Bob, who works at Emory University. He said when former President Carter came to Emory to teach or hold a summit he traveled in two vehicles attended by six SS agents; four assigned to him and two assigned to Rosalyn, who always accompanied Jimmy. As far as Bob could tell there was never an escort along with the Carter caravan. Bob did say he figured the Georgia State Patrol and local jurisdictions monitored the Carter party’s movements from Plains, GA to metro Atlanta. In the case of the Middle East summit Carter held there, other local USSS agents and possibly USMS deputies along with DeKalb County PD SWAT were on hand.

I would think the level of protection offered to Trump the day of the Butler, PA rally was adequate considering his status at that time (not officially the nominated candidate); however, the planning process and choices of personnel as well the apparent lack of coordination and communication between all LE personnel involved nearly cost the now nominee his life.

 

[GaryS]

There was zero doubt at the time of the assassination attempt that President Trump was going to be the nominee. Given the rhetoric, especially that of leadership of the Democrat Party, there should have been extra security provided and a much sharper team in place.

These five agents placed on leave are likely going to be the fall guys for the actions or lack of actions of people way further up on the food chain. The includes the Secretary of DHS and senior managers responsible for running the USSS.

I would think the level of protection offered to Trump the day of the Butler, PA rally was adequate considering his status at that time (not officially the nominated candidate); however, the planning process and choices of personnel as well the apparent lack of coordination and communication between all LE personnel involved nearly cost the now nominee his life.

 

[Rudi]

There is a congressional junket today to the shooting site. Dan Bongino is with them as an expert witness. He put up some of it on his podcast.

 

[djohns6]

The administration is dragging this out hoping it will fade away . If they can stonewall until after the election ( the one they expect to win ) they can make it go away .

 

[moosedog]

"Dropped the ball"? No, a set up.
I don't think most Americans fathom how much our country has been corrupted.
Too busy looking at their phones and other entertainment.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Hanlon’s Razor

“Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.”

Or incompetence.

Probably a good prescription based on reality.

However, some actually important positions seem to me to indicate that their occupation by stupid or incompetent individuals IS evidence of malice, both by the occupant and his or her supporters.

 

[LVSteve]

Not going to get into the gun and badge part this is a general answer A suspension with pay is a vacation IMHO. Just as crazy as a school suspension, that just a official break from going to school!

I have always thought if something is possibly bad enough to merit a suspension and major look over it should go like this.

You get no pay, all your pay is held in escrow till the outcome of the inquiry. If exonerated you get all your back money and interest. If found guilty the held money is now fore fitted and whatever other punishments are now forthcoming.

.

That does not work in cashflow sensitive America. I don't get why an officer suspended from the street after a shooting cannot be put on desk duty. LEOs are always complaiming about the paperwork load, so let the suspended guys deal with some of it.

 

[petepeterson]

There is a congressional junket today to the shooting site. Dan Bongino is with them as an expert witness. He put up some of it on his podcast.

The view of the entire site will be obstructed by Bongino's head.
There's a 30% chance of a spontaneous eclipse.

 

[biku324]

So; whichever onsite Secret Service supervisory special agent was who didn't bother to have the team pick up, test, and deploy the available local SWAT radios is the most culpable, IMO.

 

[S-W4EVER]

On leave but keep pay and benefits. How is that different from vacation? Larry

I doubt it’s much of a vacation when you’re being investigated and might not have a job to return to.

 

[NYlakesider]

This ordeal still turns my stomach. How could a single tasked, highly trained, best of the best, elite law enforcement organization have such an epic failure on what should have been a relatively routine detail? Again, I don't often buy into conspiracy theories, but in this instance, the SS has made it easy.
One of the POTUS candidates has stated if elected they would form an assassination task force. If they are not successful, I doubt we will ever get a full accounting of the shooting. Would it be due to a lack of interest or are there reasons for concealing certain facts?

I think its safe to say there are many reasons and many facts.

 

[DWalt]

Regarding the dichotomy of malice and stupidity, that can work in both directions. Malice can mask stupidity, or vice-versa.

 

[moosedog]

So; whichever onsite Secret Service supervisory special agent didn't bother to have he team pick up, test, and deploy the available local SWAT radios is the most culpable, IMO.

Thats a big one, but not as big as not covering a rooftop 125 yards away and not responding to PDs message of a possible in a secured zone. A rookie out of the academy could have done better. I'm sorry, I've worked with SS in my career, and they are not that stupid.

 

[DWalt]

At least to me, the SS failure to immediately identify such a blatantly apparent risk source as that building roof represented, and doing nothing to nullify that risk, at least suggests far more is behind it than simple human incompetence. But on the other hand, what possible serious group of conspirators would select a green 20-YO kid as an assassin? But Gavrillo Princep sort of fits the same description as Crooks. He was also 20 and had no military experience prior to his assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand. But he also had more of a radical background than Crooks.

 

[WR Moore]

The Butler head LEO is has been interviewed several times, don't recall by whom, but the interviews appeared on Fox. Per him, IIRC, the USSS said they'd drop off/pick up radios and didn't. Also didn't meet with them prior to or do any followup after the rally.

 

[UncleEd]

I still think the answer remains simple, the on site SS agents dropped the ball going into what for all purposes was just another local campaign stop like dozens before. Routine can breed complacency with any danger level being muted by that mundane routine.

Easy to say no protective operation should be thought of as routine and mundane but humans being human, sometimes the easiest, lazy route is the one chosen.

 

[Skeet 028]

I still think the answer remains simple, the on site SS agents dropped the ball going into what for all purposes was just another local campaign stop like dozens before. Routine can breed complacency with any danger level being muted by that mundane routine.

Easy to say no protective operation should be thought of as routine and mundane but humans being human, sometimes the easiest, lazy route is the one chosen.

Not bein argumentative....but routine and mundane...Like Jack Ruby shooting Oswald?? The SS IS or should be better than what happened in Pa

 

[UncleEd]

Not bein argumentative....but routine and mundane...Like Jack Ruby shooting Oswald?? The SS IS or should be better than what happened in Pa

Yes, it should be better and probably will be for a few years.

 

[biku324]

I still think the answer remains simple, the on site SS agents dropped the ball going into what for all purposes was just another local campaign stop like dozens before. Routine can breed complacency with any danger level being muted by that mundane routine.

Easy to say no protective operation should be thought of as routine and mundane but humans being human, sometimes the easiest, lazy route is the one chosen.

This is why they have so much trouble hiring, training, and retaining air marshals. No matter how much they pay, it is a horrible job - get on a plane, fly somewhere you don't want to be, get on another, fly somewhere else you dont want to be. Every day. And NOTHING happens. Nothing. Ever. Except once every few decades.