Secret Service calls for new local law enforcement units in push to prevent mass shootings

Secret Service officials encouraged law enforcement agencies across the nation to adopt behavioral assessment units in an effort to curb targeted violence, in a Wednesday report issued by the National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC).

“The framework presented herein is the latest NTAC offering intended to support the violence prevention efforts of state and local law enforcement agencies,” the document said, noting the center seeks to address mass shootings, workplace violence, acts of terrorism and assassination attempts through the programming.

The guide urges officers to prioritize a person’s demeanor rather than their race, sex or age to identify potentially threatening behavior. It also highlights the impact of programs created to address when civilians report individuals of interest.

“What our research has continuously found is that in many cases of mass violence or other forms of targeted violence, the attacker’s behavior was witnessed by community bystanders, some of whom sought to report their concerns to public safety officials,” NTAC Director Lina Alathari told reporters ahead of the guide’s release.

“Unfortunately, many communities lack the structured systems to receive, evaluate and respond to these reports in a way that would reduce the likelihood of a violent or tragic outcome,” she added.

States like North Carolina and Hawaii, as well as Washington, D.C., have adopted a model similar to the Secret Service through fusion centers. These units allow multiple law enforcement agencies to communicate, share resources and information with the goal of safeguarding the public and preventing threats from escalating.

The agency suggested local units with smaller staff sizes build a threat assessment department with a designated violence prevention officer who gathers information and manages potentially violent situations, leveraging assistance as needed.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security provides funding for such units in state, local, tribal and territorial areas, including institutions of higher learning through the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention Grant Program.

“We have seen historically that law enforcement in the United States may at times feel limited in what they can do when responding to reports of threats or other concerning behavior, particularly when that behavior does not involve criminal activity,” NTAC Assistant Chief Steven Driscoll said, noting the guide seeks to fill this gap.

The Secret Service released the new brief after former President Trump’s assassination attempts created a heightened interest in national and local safety protocols. The agency recently added additional security details to Trump after requests from his campaign team.

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