In a startling revelation, newly released bodycam footage from a Butler Township police officer exposes the deep frustration and anger of local law enforcement following last month's attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The footage, obtained by The Wall Street Journal, captures the officer, whose identity remains undisclosed, vehemently criticizing the Secret Service for disregarding his repeated warnings about securing a vulnerable building, later used by the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, to carry out the attack.
The officer's frustration is evident in the expletive-laden audio as he recounts his futile attempts to alert the Secret Service days before the rally. "I f—ing told them that they needed to post guys f—ing over here…I told them that f—ing Tuesday," the officer is heard saying, referring to his warnings about the AGR building, which was in close proximity to the rally site. Despite these warnings, the Secret Service assured him that the area would be covered, a promise that was not fulfilled.
Body cam footage from the July 13 rally in Butler, PA was just released. This is the angle from the cop who was confronted by Crooks on the roof 😳 pic.twitter.com/DGWmMIrO7s
— Shock Net (@theshocknet) August 8, 2024
This failure to secure the area had dire consequences. On the day of the rally, Crooks managed to position himself on the roof of the AGR building, where he fired eight shots towards the rally, killing one attendee, injuring two others, and striking Trump in the ear. The bodycam footage also reveals that there was confusion among the officers on the ground, with some under the mistaken impression that their colleagues were already stationed on the roof of the building, only to discover after the shooting that this was not the case.
The officer’s account, captured on bodycam, has sparked widespread concern about the Secret Service's handling of the event and their coordination—or lack thereof—with local law enforcement. The footage paints a picture of chaos and miscommunication during the critical moments of the attack. "I thought you guys were on the roof. I thought it was you. I thought it was you," one officer is heard saying to a fellow officer shortly after the shooting, to which the response was a frustrated, "No," and a question about why no officers were on the roof.
There's a dirty cop in Butler, PA.
The break in communication repeatedly comes into play with the local CS team who had a visual on Crooks.
THAT TEAM is the SAME TEAM who ABANDONED their post at the perfect time…
…AND ALL OF THIS STARTED AROUND 4:30PM…ALREADY DOCUMENTED… pic.twitter.com/FHrmLTzVFm
— GusQuixote (@GusQuixote) July 31, 2024
The lack of communication between the Secret Service and the local police has become a focal point of criticism. Reports indicate that the Secret Service and the Butler County Emergency Services Unit were not on the same radio frequency, which likely contributed to the confusion during the incident.
Moreover, there are indications that the Secret Service mistakenly believed that local snipers would secure the roof, despite earlier communications suggesting they would be positioned inside the building to avoid exposure to extreme heat and a compromised vantage point.
As the investigation continues, the bodycam footage has raised significant concerns about the adequacy of the Secret Service's security measures at the rally. The footage not only highlights the immediate frustrations of local law enforcement but also suggests potential lapses in the planning and execution of security protocols that may have allowed the shooter to go undetected until it was too late.
More than three weeks after the assassination attempt, federal officials have yet to disclose the shooter’s motive. The lack of clear communication and the failure to heed local officers' warnings have intensified scrutiny on the Secret Service, with many questioning whether this tragedy could have been avoided had proper precautions been taken. As new details emerge, the spotlight remains on the lapses that allowed Crooks to carry out his attack, putting the lives of Trump and countless rally-goers at risk.
