
Butler Township Commissioner Ed Natali has come forward to defend the local police following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania. The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired from the roof of the American Glass Research (AGR) building, sparking a dispute over which law enforcement agency was responsible for securing the area.
The Secret Service indicated that while they secured the immediate venue, local police were responsible for surrounding areas, including the AGR building. However, Commissioner Natali took to Facebook to counter these claims, stating, “The Butler Township Police Department (BTPD) had no security detail for this event. There were seven officers all assigned to traffic detail. Period! The BTPD was NOT responsible for securing AGR or any other location. Anyone who says so, reports on it, implies it, etc… is uninformed, lying, or covering their own backsides.”
Natali emphasized that BTPD officers were only responsible for traffic management. When reports of a suspicious person surfaced, they responded, but were not tasked with overall event security. During the incident, one officer tried to pull himself onto the roof where the shooter was located, but fell and injured himself after the shooter aimed at him.
Natali criticized the subsequent blame game, stating, “It is completely disgusting to see finger-pointing has become the priority when we had four people shot, with one of the four fatally wounded. It is more important to affix the blame than address the problem.”
He commended the dedication of BTPD officers, stressing their commitment to their community and their roles. Natali expressed disappointment over misleading reports suggesting local police were at fault.
The incident has highlighted the challenges of coordinating security for high-profile events. As the investigation continues, the roles and responsibilities of different law enforcement agencies are under scrutiny. This controversy underscores the need for clear communication and accurate reporting in such critical situations.