Michigan law enforcement veteran speaks about response to Trump assassination attempt

(CBS) – Following the attack about former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday night, CBS News Detroit spoke with a 25-year veteran of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office who worked as a security guard for Trump.

Terence Mekoski is a veteran police officer and former Michigan State Representative who has served on security teams for some of Oakland County and Metro Detroit’s biggest politicians.

“The efforts of the Secret Service and all law enforcement agencies to protect the President and all dignitaries are unmatched,” Mekoski said.

“I’ve had the pleasure of being a close guard for many people, not only for President Trump and his family, but also for Bush and Obama, the Clintons, working with the Sheriff’s Department and supporting the Secret Service.”

Mekoski says that with such high-profile events, everyone from the local to the federal level has a hand in it and they are prepared for the worst.

“Well, you see what happens. The Secret Service and law enforcement jumped into action. They surrounded the president and put their bodies in danger. You see the Secret Service and all other law enforcement officials put up a tough security ring around him. They prepared a vehicle to take the president away. I’m sure there was medical personnel nearby. A quick escort to the nearest hospital that was planned in advance. This is all staged as if it were going to happen every time,” Mekoski said.

Mekoski says security for events of this caliber is planned weeks or even months in advance. He says something like what we saw in Butler, Pennsylvania, can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time.

“We Americans must realize that tomorrow will still be here. We will be fine, but we must continually work to make our country better and greater again,” he said.