Not just reactive concern, but also proactive measures by security management could be a face-saver for the US Secret Service.
White House security has been under the scanner for quite some time now. With the recent case of Omar Gonzalez leaping over the White House wall and reaching deep into the premises, the spate of trespassers breaching White House security has increased alarmingly. As per the official figures of the US Secret Service–which is responsible for security of the White House–as many as 6 fence-jumpers have breached the White House this year.
The US Secret Service’s role and manner of dealing with the incident has also fuelled controversy. US Secret Service director Julia Pierson, before stepping down, had ordered a probe into the way the incident was dealt with by officials. The service was drawn into the eye of the storm because of contradictory statements issued with regard to Gonzalez’s possessing arms or not. Initially, the agency denied the fact that Gonzalez was carrying a knife when he entered the White House complex, but a latter statement admitted to this fact.
Not only this. A deeper probe revealed that not only have 6 fence-jumpers breached the White House this year but there have been cases of 16 such fence-jumpers in the last 5 years. This is an alarming figure. To this, acting Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy stated that there were 30 additional instances of trespassers crossing less permanent barriers of the White House.
Though it has been argued that most such instances of fence-jumpers breaching the White House involve trespassing lower level barriers, this is definitely no excuse. Also, most cases are those of individuals who were either mentally ill, drunk or high. This also raises debate on how trespassers should be treated initially when nothing is known about their whereabouts, intent, or what they may be carrying with them.
In August 2010, an intruder breached security because he wanted to get “a better view of the White House.” Again in September 2010, another intruder claimed that he was the real Obama, and in another instance a trespasser wanted to give some music recordings CD to President Obama!
Considering these cases, there is also another side to the Secret Service officer’s story with reference to 6 fence-jumpers breaching the White House this year: that regarding human rights violations. Had officers shot Gonzalez before knowing his whereabouts, the Secret Service would have found themselves in another maze of controversies for violating basic human rights.
Considering this, a strong security net and pro-active measures are more necessary than mere debates on reactive measures of the Secret Service officers to curb cases of breach of the White House.
Opinion by Madhumiitaa Gaanguly Srivastava