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Butler County commissioners at odds over suggested security contract for Trump rally

Several Secret Service Agents helping former President Donald Trump after he was struck by a bullet in the ear during the rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds on Saturday, July 13, 2024. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Butler County Commissioner Leslie Osche said Wednesday, Aug. 14, that the July 13 rally for former President Donald Trump appeared to be “under-resourced” — a problem she attributed to a fellow commissioner’s request that the Butler County Sheriff’s Office work under a contract for the event.

The sheriff’s office reportedly provided six deputies for the event, where a gunman attempted to assassinate Trump, according to Sheriff Mike Slupe. One rallygoer was killed, two were seriously injured, Trump was grazed in the ear and the shooter was killed by the Secret Service.

Despite a request by Kevin Boozel, the lone Democratic commissioner on the three-person board, that the sheriff’s office secure a contract before providing security related to the rally, no contract was put in place, Slupe confirmed Wednesday.

“It seems that there was an effort to avoid overtime to reduce the number of people that might have been available,” Osche said. “I don’t have any proof of that. It appeared that we were under-resourced.”

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