Local Police Officer Says he Told Secret Service to Secure Roof Used by Trump Shooter

Newly-released bodycam footage reveals that a local police officer in Butler, Pennsylvania told the Secret Service to secure the roof of the facility from which a would-be assassin fired multiple rounds at former President Donald Trump during a rally.

According to Fox News, the Butler Township police officer can be heard on his own bodycam’s audio as he rants to a fellow officer about 13 minutes after the assassin was killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper. As the two officers stand outside the AGR building, the officer says “I f***ing told them they need to post the f***ing guys over here, the Secret Service. I told them that f***ing Tuesday. I told them to f***ing post guys over here.”

The rally took place on Saturday, July 13th, meaning that the officer warned the Secret Service five days in advance.

“I thought you guys were on the roof,” says another police officer who is believed to be from the Butler City Police Department (BCPD).

In response, the Butler Township officer says “no, we were inside.”

“I wasn’t even concerned about it because I thought someone was on the roof,” the BCPD officer continues. “Like, how the hell can you lose a guy walking back here if someone’s on the roof.

The Butler Township officer simply replied, once again, that “they were inside.”

The video marks just the latest example of the lack of coordination and organization ahead of the July 13th rally, where the 22-year-old gunman opened fire as President Trump was speaking onstage. The first shot narrowly grazed President Trump’s ear, at which point he ducked for cover as Secret Service agents surrounded him. Several more shots were fired before the gunman was killed, with one of his shots killing 50-year-old former fire chief Corey Comperatore, and seriously injuring two other rallygoers.

Most of the criticism has fallen on the Secret Service, primarily for putting too much of the workload on the smaller local police force, as well as providing a sub-par team of agents to protect the former president. In response to the backlash, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned shortly after the assassination attempt.