In an interview with Channel 4 in the UK, Chertoff Group Principal and Head of Security Risk & Resilience Ben Joelson said the assassination attempt on a presidential candidate was a shocking moment for citizens in the US.
Joelson discussed the complexities of campaign security and executive protection. He explained that what first appears to be a “lone wolf” attack, meaning the perpetrator was acting on his own, without an affiliation, is among the most difficult for law enforcement to detect and interrupt. It’s important to note that investigations evolve over time as more information comes to light.
Joelson said, the US Secret Service (USSS) must balance rigorous security requirements with the candidates’ access to the public. They have to get it right every time and the adversary only needs to get it right once.
Coordination between USSS and local law enforcement is a critical component for any large-scale event. The USSS “owns” the security bubble around the President, and relies heavily on local partners and vetted law enforcement to control the outer perimeter.
One area that investigators and oversight committees will evaluate in the coming weeks is the “functional seam,” and how well the teams were communicating. This is often a theme security assessments conducted by The Chertoff Group to ensure security stakeholders can communicate effectively before, during, and after an incident.
Watch the full interview here.
