Fraternal Order of Police president calls out Secret Service over Trump rally failure

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. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

The leader of the Fraternal Order of Police took issue with the U.S. Secret Service claims that local authorities were supposed to be posted in the area where a gunman shot former President Trump during a campaign rally over the weekend.

Patrick Yoes, the group president, also said the protection of Trump and security of the site where his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania was being held is the primary function of the Secret Service. He said Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle had doubled down on the agency's claim.

“All of us want answers,” Yoes said in a statement, noting remarks by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas that a security failure almost cost Trump his life. “All of us in law enforcement can agree that the roof of the building should have been secured by law enforcement. It clearly was not.”

The Secret Service has come under fire after it was revealed the alleged shooter was able to obtain an elevated shooting position just outside the security perimeter of the rally. Yoes noted that the agency relies on the support and assistance of local authorities for such events.

“Suggestions made in the media that suggest local agencies should play no role in assisting the USSS at events like that one in Butler simply do not know what they are talking about,” he said.

Yoes said the Secret Service will come to rely on local authorities in the coming months as the election nears.

“Yet, in the wake of some of the anonymous comments from unknown officials, State and local agencies may wonder if they can rely on the Secret Service,” he said. “I am concerned that anonymous statements or media speculation could have a chilling effect on the ability of Federal, State and local law enforcement to work together through what will certainly be a grueling campaign.”

Cheatle has vowed to stay on as director despite some calls for her to resign.