Due to the increased amount of threats against political figures and public officials in recent years, the Pennsylvania State Police is creating a new political violence threat unit and new guidelines to help notify and protect state legislators from future threats.

While political violence and threats against public figures from both parties have increased nationwide, Pennsylvania has been one of the epicenters. Butler County knows this all too well in the nearly two years since the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump at the Butler Farm Show grounds.

In Harrisburg, the lives of Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family were put at risk last April, on the first night of Passover, when an arsonist set the Governor’s residence on fire while Shapiro’s family slept inside. Cody Allen Balmer, 38, was later arrested and charged with terrorism, attempted murder and aggravated arson.

Multiple individuals throughout Western Pennsylvania have also been arrested over the past year for making threats against Trump and other politicians. This includes Butler resident Shawn Monper, 33, who pleaded guilty in April to two counts of threatening to kill Trump and other federal officials.

In a letter sent May 13 to state House and Senate leadership, the acting commissioner of the state police acknowledged that several weeks ago, the Pennsylvania Criminal Intelligence Center was notified by U.S. Capitol Police of a possible threat against the Pennsylvania Speaker of the House, Joanna McClinton, D-191, and three other members of the state House of Representatives.

An individual, Adam Berryhill of Lebanon County, was identified on April 30 as the person making the threatening posts, and he was arrested and incarcerated the next day. Charges were filed accusing Berryhill of making terroristic threats.

However, a review of the investigation and threat mitigation revealed a breakdown in the process of notifying affected legislators, according to the commissioner.

“Original notification was made by the PSP Executive Services Office, which did not have ongoing real-time access to the additional victim information generated by the TIU (Tactical Intelligence Unit) through the investigation. TIU members did not realize that an updated notice had not been made to the Capitol Police, or the Sergeant-at-Arms,” acting commissioner George L. Bivens said.

Bivens said a new political violence threat unit is being created within the state police’s bureau of criminal investigation, “solely for the purpose of investigating threats against elected officials.” The unit will include “experienced investigators,” and will work with the tactical intelligence unit to ensure the flow of information throughout the investigation.

Changes are also being implemented to ensure those affected by such threats are notified in the future. The new process will also ensure the Sergeant-at-Arms for both houses of the General Assembly, the Capitol Police, PSP’s executive services office and its legislative affairs office are immediately notified following any similar incidents.