***BOG post****'Devastating' Failures Lead Secret Service to Consider Raising White House Fence

[steve2470]

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/devastating-failures-lead-secret-service-raising-white-house/story?id=27029124

The security failures that recently let a man with a small knife in his pocket jump the perimeter fence and make it "practically unencumbered" deep into the White House were "devastating," and now the U.S. Secret Service may make the fence taller, the new head of the agency said today in his first appearance before lawmakers at the helm.

"Without question, the agency has been severely damaged in recent years by failures," dating back to the Cartagena, Colombia, prostitution scandal in 2012, Acting Director Joseph Clancy told a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee.

"The range of shortcomings” is “what hits the hardest," he said.

The chairman of the committee, Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., said a recently completed internal Department of Homeland Security review of the September intrusion "uncovered a laundry list of errors," from communications systems that didn't work to a canine officer who was on a personal cell phone call -- without his radio earpiece in his ear or his tactical radio -- and realized too late what was happening in front of him.

[Ineeda]

1. One has to wonder

if the current occupant in the White House is a factor in the failures. Is loyalty to the office, no matter who holds it, missing? Or are they simply sloppy? Agents assigned to the president and First Family need to be absolutely fanatical about their job. Or join the ranks of the unemployed.

[steve2470]

3. I agree about the dedication required ! nt

[Mosby]

2. I think the military should take over the role of the SS

The army trains soldiers for security positions, why not use them in the place of the secret service.

I suggest this because I think the problems are so systemic that there is no way to fix it, these "civil servants" all need to be let go.

[Little Star]

4. I think you are exactly right but

they also need to raise the fence. Every possible protection should be taken, imo.

[Historic NY]

6. In that case just move the POTUS to a military base...

wait how many shootings have been there, even in the DC area. Raising the Fence and maybe a few well place security devices or land mines might act a deterrants. A determined zealot isn't easily detered.

[Politicalboi]

5. No taller fence

Just better security. If not the military, then take away cell phones for agents while on watch. Just RADIOS. No personal phone calls or game playing while on the clock.

[Cha]

7. Seems like they want a safety net of a higher fence in case they screw up again.. perhaps

they just need to be Professional! Ya think?

Thank you, steve!

[sheshe2]

8. Thanks Steve.

The SS has egg on their face and the huge failures need to be corrected. You do your job right or you are gone. End of story.

[hopemountain]

9. and today, another nut job caught - locked and loaded

outside the whitehouse - "someone told him to go there". one asks - why were there not this many breeches during other presidencies? ... um, oh wait! ... i figured it out for myself.