LACKAWANNA COUNTY, Pa. — Following the failed assassination attempt on former President Trump's life at a political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania State Police Colonel Chris Paris and other members of law enforcement addressed a House Homeland Security Committee to figure out what went wrong.
"The PSP currently is conducting a criminal investigation parallel to and in concert with the FBI to identify any and all parties criminally culpable," said Col. Christopher Paris, Pennsylvania State Police.
"I don't think there's a standard procedure for something like this. We haven't seen something like this in decades. This is the first time in Secret Services history where a counter-sniper actually had to neutralize someone, so we are looking at, you know, new territory," said Rob O'Donnell, Radio Host & former NYPD Homicide Detective.
WILK Radio Host Rob O'Donnell is a decorated former NYPD Homicide Detective.
He tells us he worked several presidential details over his decades in law enforcement, "Some of the other things there is people just don't understand these details they think that the Secret Service shows up with hundreds of people at these events and they're in charge. It's truly not. They come up with a dozen or two dozen, especially at an event like this in rural Pennsylvania."
From short staffing that plagues all law enforcement agencies to communication issues, O'Donnell says a lot went wrong on July 13th.
That's why he says the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, who was in charge of the event, is just the start of many changes facing the Secret Service and future presidential details.
"I think they realize the enormity of this. Listen, Secret Service, defend, and protect both parties. They have to protect every protected that's in their care regardless if there's a D an I or an R behind their name," said O'Donnell.
O'Donnell believes that increased security at indoor venues will be the new norm for upcoming presidential rallies as investigations into the assassination attempt continue.
ABC News reports that while there are Trump rallies schdueled for the coming days, none are planned to be held outside.