'Hope is not a security strategy': Former FBI official trashes police tape used for Miami security
Law enforcement officials and those who witnessed the Jan. 6 attack were shocked to see that the U.S. Marshals decided to use police tape to protect the Miami courthouse on Tuesday amid Donald Trump's arraignment.
After the Jan. 6 riots, the Capitol Police were criticized for using nothing more than bike racks as barriers around the U.S. Capitol entrances. Since then, on serious occasions, the Capitol and Supreme Court have started using the fence as a barrier.
Former FBI assistant director for counterintelligence, Frank Figliuzzi, joined the chorus of voices fearful that the Miami police tape was a joke.
"Make no mistake about it, we're taking this event extremely serious (sic)," said Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales. "We know there's a potential of things taking a turn for the worst, but that's not the Miami way."
Figliuzzi explained that there is a lot of evidence online showing that people were coming to Miami to support Donald Trump.
"That's not necessarily violent people, but clearly you can look this up and find that buses upon buses, hundreds if not thousands of people are planning to come and are on their way and arriving soon," he said. "I'm left to wonder what is happening here. There's multi-layered and multi-agency coordination or lack thereof here. Yellow perimeter tape is not a perimeter. It's an invitation for people who want to cause trouble so that they won't encounter a lot of resistance. Layer on turf battles that can happen, you have the city of Miami Police Department responsible for the environment right around the federal courthouse. You have the Miami-Dade Police Department, much larger, very experienced police department. They'll help the Secret Service escort that motorcade right into the Miami area. Then there will be a transition to City of Miami Police Department."
There has already been at least one incident with a suspicious device that resulted in the bomb squad clearing the area.
Figliuzzi explained that the Secret Service has a preference for harder perimeters and larger distances around structures. They prefer bike racks and barricades. The perfect example is what New York did for Trump when he was indicted on state charges, arranged and booked. They also increased security for the grand jury there.
"I don't know why we're not seeing it here," a puzzled Figliuzzi confessed. "Layer in the U.S. Marshals who are responsible for the physical courthouse and the protection of judges and personnel inside that courthouse and then throw in federal protective service, the uniformed guards who help with entrance and egress to the courthouse. You've got Florida state are involved here. Too many cooks can spoil the broth. So, it is not enough to say, as the chief said, 'It is not the Miami way.' It is not enough as the mayor said, 'we hope for the best.' Hope is not a security strategy. So, not clear what is going on, but I am clear that if people are intent on violence, what I'm seeing right now will not be adequate."
See the comments from Figliuzzi below or at the link here.
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