In a critique of past events conducted by Ronald Rowe Jr., it was alleged that inadequate communication between the Secret Service and local law enforcement resulted in lapses in security provided to President Donald Trump during the regrettable gunshot incident on July 13. Upon assuming the role of acting director, Rowe Jr. made it his priority to visit the scene at the Butler farm show to scrutinize the factors that contributed to the security lapse. He meticulously reviewed the vantage point from the roof of the AGR building where the perpetrator discharged his weapon, by aligning himself in a prone position to precisely gauge the gunsman’s viewpoint.
The alarming lack of security measures in place on that roof, as observed by Rowe, was a disappointing revelation. As a dedicated law enforcement officer and a faithful servant with the Secret Service for a notable 25 years, Rowe expressed his dissatisfaction with the fact that no counter-sniper teams under the Secret Service’s competence, or even members from Trump’s security detail, were assigned for roof patrol. To his surprise, no one from the personnel present was aware of a man with a firearm on the roof until the disaster struck.
Rowe expressed concerns around the delayed knowledge of the assailant’s possessions, as personnel only became aware of the firearm when the gunshots echoed. Before this, the team’s understanding was limited to local law enforcement’s involvement in handling a suspicious individual in the vicinity, oblivious to the imminent threat. He emphasized this to be an unfortunate oversight, a failure of imagination, and a testament to the complacency in recognizing the severe risks surrounding their protectees in this unpredictable world.
He suggested that the incident could be attributed to authorities not challenging their assumptions – that their partners would vigilantly cover all aspects of security, and trust that there would always be uniformed law enforcement presence. These unchallenged assumptions, and the internal failure to be more inquisitive during the event’s advance, allowed the incident to transpire.
During a discussion with senators on Tuesday, the acting director of the Secret Service admitted that the agency was remiss on July 13 by not assigning a counter-sniper to the roof, which nearly facilitated a tragic mishap and harmed President Trump. The assailant succeeded in firing his weapon eight times and tragically claimed the life of one rally attendee.
While Rowe provided more detailed insight into the sequence of events than his predecessor had in his recent accounts, he evaded one pivotal question concerning that unfortunate day: Who was responsible for monitoring the roof?
Rowe’s visit to the site of the shootout in Butler, Pennsylvania, focused primarily on understanding the logistics from the unmanned and apparently unmonitored warehouse rooftop used by the shooter. Going the extra mile, Rowe climbed onto the building and reclined on the roof to comprehend the gunman’s unobstructed line of fire to President Trump.
Feeling a profound sense of guilt and shame for the lack of preparation, Rowe expressed his discontent, stating, ‘As a career law enforcement officer and a 25-year veteran with the Secret Service, I cannot defend why that roof was not better secured.’
Moving forward, Rowe showed a commitment towards ensuring cooperation from local law enforcement or state law enforcement to ensure erecting surveillance posts on rooftops when organizing events. Contrary to standard protocol during the unfortunate Butler event, two local counter-snipers were stationed inside one of the warehouse buildings, overlooking the crowd through windows, while the shooter steadily positioned himself on the roof of a neighbouring warehouse.
Rowe dedicated his efforts to comprehend the reasons behind counter-snipers’ absence on the roof, stating, ‘We are looking at this, and they should have been on the roof, and the fact they were in the building is something I’m still trying to understand.’
The absence of roof surveillance was backed by the Butler County District Attorney, whose command covered the local counter-snipers present at the rally. He stood by his claim that the Secret Service did not assign his agents to monitor the roof used by the gunman.
Rowe showcased the flaws in communication between law enforcement agencies as the root cause that impeded the relay of crucial information to the Secret Service in a timely manner. He revealed that the planned equipment use, aimed at detecting drone activity by the gunman hours prior to the incident, was ultimately handicapped by the inadequate local cellular service.
Labeling the events of July 13 as being borne out of ‘a failure of imagination,’ Rowe conveyed a strong message that we cannot afford to ignore the realities of the increasingly dangerous world we inhabit and the clear and present threats posed to our dignitaries.
He emphasized on the misguided assumption made by the authorities that ‘someone is going to cover that,’ underlining the need to challenge our own assumptions and take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety and security of those under our protectee.
Admirable Rowe Steps Up to Investigate Security Lapses appeared first on Real News Now.
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