> As for the cop who backed down the ladder, it’s possible that he thought that the shooter himself was some part of security. <
I haven’t seen that mentioned before. But now that I think about it, it’s quite possible. You’ve got the Secret Service there, plus the PA State Police and local police from many jurisdictions.
The Secret Service site commander was probably a political hire. That’s just how today’s government rolls. So, yeah. As you noted, it could have been a total clown show where nobody knew where anybody else was.
Wait, the cop thought some guy with hair down past his shoulders (not even tied back for action) and not dressed like Secret Service, was Secret Service? Didn’t even ask? Look at the actual SS guys with the rifles. Dark blue uniforms, hats, identifying words on their backs. The number of very stupid people involved in security keeps growing.