Security smooth at Butler County Trump rally
There were more federal agents stationed at the rally for former President Donald Trump on Saturday, Oct. 5, than there were for Trump’s rally July 13, even though both events took place at the Butler Farm Show grounds.
The Butler County Sheriff’s department provided seven deputies to the rally to support federal agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service and the FBI. Butler County Sheriff Mike Slupe said Sunday that he and the deputies were briefed by the Secret Service at 7 a.m. Saturday, and the deputies remained at assigned posts through the duration of the rally.
“I had a radio and I was listening, there did not appear to be any hiccups in radio communications,” Slupe said. “There were a couple medical events, some actions the police had to take. But with the amount of people that were there, it was minor.”
Slupe said he noticed an increase in federal staff at the rally, spurred by the shooting that took place at the July rally, where a man was killed by a shooter, and Trump and two other rally attendees were injured.
The Secret Service was in charge of securing the event, and everyone who attended the rally Saturday went through a metal detector before entering the venue.
In addition to the sheriff’s office, state police staffed the event, the Butler County Emergency Services Unit had officers on scene and Butler Township provided officers for traffic detail. Butler County Commissioner Leslie Osche said the county’s 911 director, Steve Bicehouse, was involved in planning emergency response for the event, which included fire department and ambulance services.
Prior to the event, Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger said that the emergency services unit, which he is in charge of dispatching, would provide security backup to the federal agents.
Butler Township manager Tom Knights said the number of officers on duty Saturday would be larger than a usual shift, because they had traffic assignments and still maintained normal patrols throughout the day.
Nico Soler, who commands the Butler County Tactical Emergency Medical Services unit, said Saturday’s event was much easier for the group than the July rally, because the temperature didn’t reach the highs of the summer heat. He also said people at the rally expressed appreciation for the group and its presence there.
“We were able to focus on supporting the ESU team by seeing to the well-being of our teammates,” Soler said. “It is a testimony that multiagency collaboration, unified command and communication are key ingredients for good outcomes at events of this magnitude.”
Slupe commented that the number of officers at the event and the planning they did before Saturday made the rally go smooth, despite the influx of people to Connoquenessing Township.
“From the federal agents, state police who brought a lot of assets, Butler Township police assisted by the sheriff's office — it really helped to make this a safe and wonderful event,” Slupe said.
