Palm Beach County Security Plans

PALM BEACH, Fla. – WPTV has learned of a meeting scheduled for this week on protecting President-elect Donald Trump as his second term begins in just a few months.

We understand the meeting will take place on Wednesday and will involve the US Secret Service and law enforcement officials.

WPTV reporter Michael Hoffman spoke with a former FBI special agent to find out what that security plan might look like in Palm Beach County.

It’s no secret that the Secret Service and increased security have become simply a part of life in Palm Beach County. But within those layers, there are federal, state and local law enforcement officers lending a hand with resources.

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It is causing more and more blocked roads and detours to protect the president-elect.

“Well, let me tell you, I’m glad about it,” said Mar-a-Lago visitor David Alibrandi. “They need to increase security.”

Laura and Donald Murphy, snowbirds from Long Island, like to drive by the ‘Winter White House’ to take a few photos when they are in town.

“It’s such a beautiful place and maybe you can catch a glimpse of it,” said Donald Murphy.

But their trip on Tuesday wasn’t exactly ideal when they saw all the security.

“It was a little frustrating because we like to see the front of Mar-a-Lago,” Murphy said.

It is a concern and expense for Palm Beach County.

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Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told WPTV reporter Zitlali Solache that it is costing his agency a lot of money $200,000 per day to protect Trump.

Wednesday’s meeting will involve the Secret Service, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the city of Palm Beach and Mar-a-Lago officials.

While the agenda remains unclear, Hoffman spoke with former FBI Special Agent Stuart Kaplan to get his thoughts.

Kaplan said that once he is sworn in as the 47th president, any changes to Trump’s security will not come through more personnel.

“The one thing you’re going to notice is the president-elect, the Secret Service basically requires threat assessments,” Kaplan said. “He has all the means and resources as if he were the sworn-in 47th President today on this date. And so you won’t see much difference. The only difference you might see is the intelligence gathering regarding state and local law enforcement once he becomes the sworn in president, and especially here where he is very visible in Palm Beach County, there will be an effort even during normal, routine meetings with the general public, anything that may generate any attention intelligence for the Secret Service that information will be distributed to the Secret Service, just as the Secret Service will distribute to local and state law enforcement intelligence bulletins, to ensure that they work together seamlessly to share information.

He told Hoffman that the Secret Service has learned from the first presidency and his recent candidacy.

“The problem with Donald J. Trump is that he is very improvised,” Kaplan said. ‘He deviates a little from the schedule, and that sometimes causes some logistical problems for the Secret Service. It’s another layer of things that the Secret Service has to take into account because we have to control who gets in. the premises, not only when the President is present, but people may want to gain access to the premises for nefarious reasons.

They are headaches that many enjoy and that the Murphys understand but tolerate.

“Especially after the two attempts on his life … he needs all the protection he can get,” the Murphys said. “Certainly.”

WPTV has reached out to the sheriff’s office, the city of Palm Beach and the Secret Service for any indication of what will be on the meeting agenda. However, they have not yet responded for comment.