On July 13, I was glued to my television when shots rang out at the Trump rally. I watched the coverage for over 12 hours, not only out of concern as an American but also from the perspective of a police trainer and tactical officer who has worked closely with the Secret Service on presidential visits.
I would like to share my observations on what I perceived as the good, the bad and the ugly aspects of the response to this event for your consideration.
The good
As the first shot was fired:
Citizens who saw the shooter climbing the roof of a building some 400 feet away from Trump’s stage assessed the danger and shouted warnings to the police and Secret Service, but at this time, it is not known if the warnings were received.
Former President Trump immediately realized he had been shot and reacted as quickly as could be expected. He went down, making himself a more challenging target for the shooter and taking cover behind the bullet-resistant barriers in place for his protection. This was critical, as shots continued to rain down, striking three of his supporters, critically wounding at least two and killing one.
Close-in Secret Service security detail moved instantly to courageously cover Trump with a barrier of their own flesh and body armor. Someone could be heard saying, “Move,” but this was countered by the order, “No!”
There has been some criticism of the detail by “experts” (which I do not claim to be) for not moving immediately. This decision was deliberate, made by someone on the ground with the authority to do so. I admire people who can make key decisions under stress, and when those decisions prove correct, as this one did, I applaud it.
Just a few moments later, the same voice could be heard saying, “The shooter is down.” Then, the move began.
Secret Service counter-snipers should be applauded for their pre-deployment, pre-training and pre-positioning. They were commendably able to be in the right place at the right time to identify, isolate, acquire and neutralize the shooter quickly.
Police snipers return fire after shots were fired while Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump was speaking at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, July 13, 2024.
Gene J. Puskar/AP
The close-in support team orchestrated the move to shield and protect Trump effectively; however, they should not have paused for the shoes. Additionally, one very courageous Secret Service agent shielded the presidential candidate, but their size left a gap in the coverage. The agent leading the formation should probably have switched positions with her to provide better coverage, allowing her to lead the formation to the armored transport vehicle.
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, July 13, 2024.
Gene J. Puskar/AP
Corey Comperatore, when shots were fired, instinctively directed his wife and daughter to the ground and shielded them from the gunfire. During this effort, he was hit and killed by one of the rounds fired by the assassin. He died from his wounds. Corey was described by his daughter Allyson as “…the best dad a girl could ask for.” May God embrace him and give him wings.
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Former President Trump’s fist-pumping call to “fight” while bleeding from a gunshot wound will forever be an iconic moment in history. From a security aspect, it exposed him to danger once again, especially if there had been another shooter. However, from a leadership perspective, this deliberate act of courage is unmatched in presidential history.
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump reacts following an assassination attempt at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, July 13, 2024.
Gene J. Puskar/AP
A non-law enforcement friend contacted me and said, “The look on his face scared me.” I responded, “I have been shot at, and whenever I am shot at, I want the people with me to have that look on their faces.”
You can see by the reaction of the crowd, who knew by then that shots had been fired, they would have charged into hell with that man at that moment. You can’t teach that in a leadership school. It was an amazing moment to witness.
Tactical team members quickly moved to secure the podium, while other members just as quickly made their way to the roof to confirm the shooter was down. They all looked proficient with their weapons and movements.
The driver of the armored transport had his vehicle positioned at the opposite end of the stage from where the shots had been fired within seconds. Once the former president was inside that vehicle, he was secure and safe from any shoulder-fired weapon that could be brought to bear. Excellent!
A medical triage unit was on scene and quickly provided aid to citizens wounded in the shooting.
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The bad
The Secret Service site assessor needs to account for why the roof of the building, which so obviously provided a perfect location for a sniper with skills and deadly intent to operate from, was unsecured.
The Secret Service training of at least one agent on scene needs to be addressed, as the agent was unable to return her weapon to her holster under stress. It could be argued that she should not have been returning her weapon to her holster yet, but regardless, the ability to effortlessly return a weapon to its holster without taking her eye off the threat area is an essential skill she did not possess.
If you, dear readers, do not possess that skill, simply purchase a non-firing training weapon of your own and practice drawing and returning your weapon to the holster.
The ugly
Some political adversaries and media members have encouraged the targeting of not only this political candidate but also his supporters with their unhinged comments. President Biden should also recalibrate his comments, as just days ago, he said, “It’s time to put Donald Trump in a bullseye.” Words have consequences. It is time to tone down the rhetoric on both sides.
Politically elected decision-makers have to reassess security preparations. Shockingly, proposed legislation by a Mississippi congressman would remove Secret Service protection from former President Trump and protection had been denied to Robert Kennedy Jr., also a presidential candidate, which is especially troubling and shows little consideration for the concept of risk management, given that his father and uncle were both victims of political assassins. NOTE: On July 15, the Associated Press reported that President Joe Biden has directed the U.S. Secret Service to protect independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.
Political leaders have deliberately and unjustly defunded, defamed and demoralized law enforcement. These efforts have had a lasting impact on the profession, making the officer recruitment a major problem. As a direct result of these actions, law enforcement is dangerously understaffed nationwide during these perilous times.
Conclusion
As stated, there were some commendable actions in this situation worthy of applause. Some shortcomings could be improved upon. However, the ugly aspects mentioned here need to be addressed and changed, or this will happen again. Prepare!
This article was updated on 7/16/2024 to reflect the announcement that President Joe Biden has directed the U.S. Secret Service to protect independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.
The Trump rally shooting demonstrated commendable actions like quick thinking by citizens, as well as shortcomings such as poor site selection and training gaps
