Tampa Bay law enforcement agencies will likely re-evaluate security after assassination attempt

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump has Tampa Bay-area law enforcement looking at security measures for political events.

In 1968, the country watched as police and protestors clashed in Chicago at the Democratic National Convention.

Tensions were already high after Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated in the months leading up to the convention.

The events are eerily similar to the recent assassination attempt of Trump ahead of the Republican National Convention.

“In this hyper partisan time period that we’re in right now, many organizations have been planning security for events throughout the campaign season, and have already been taking added measures with respect to preparation for protests, potential active violence, and things like this,” said Craig Gundry, a security expert with Critical Intervention Services in Pinellas County.

Gundry teaches local law enforcement agencies around the country about terroristic threats. He believes the recent assassination attempt will change the way local law enforcement prepares for large-scale events.

“It is quite probable that both of the proactive side, the investigation and assessment of potential threat situations will also be amplified as well as also the actual physical security measures” Gundry said. “It is also likely that the pot has been stirred as well for whereby many actors that were already prone towards violence or similar types of acts may feel motivated in order to act in response to the event that occurred.”

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