State Bolsters Governor's Security But Keeps Review Secret After Attack

The Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg.

Pennsylvania State Police are bolstering security at the Governor’s Residence following an arson attack last month, including the creation of a new uniformed unit and physical upgrades, but the agency will keep the full security review confidential, according to a letter obtained by Spotlight PA on Tuesday.

Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Col. Christopher Paris informed legislative leaders in the letter about the security enhancements in response to the April 13 attack where a man allegedly scaled the perimeter fence and deployed Molotov cocktails at the state-owned residence in Harrisburg while Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family were present.

Col. Christopher Paris speaking with other officials after the arson at the Governor’s Residence.
Credit: PA Internet News Service

Paris stated the new uniformed division within the Executive Services Office, which provides close protection to the governor and his family, will maintain “an additional visible physical presence” at the residence near the Capitol. They will use marked state police vehicles and troopers trained in emergency response.

The move is in addition to the existing, non-uniformed special detail that provides ongoing security for the governor and other high-level officials. Past state police documents indicate the round-the-clock security detail for the governor, his family, and the lieutenant governor and his family numbers around two dozen.

The Governor’s Residence is surrounded by security cameras, a fence, and has a manned presence when the governor is in Harrisburg, according to a law enforcement source who previously worked with state police.

Troopers are also working with the Pennsylvania Department of General Services to implement physical security improvements, including the installation of a new “anti-climb” fence. Paris indicated that other security upgrades would not be publicly visible.

Following the attack, the state police retained Jeffrey B. Miller, a former state police commissioner and nationally-known security consultant, to conduct an independent review of security protocols. Miller delivered his report to the state police and the governor’s office on April 28.

However, Paris made it clear in his letter that the full report would not be released to the public, citing the “sensitive and detailed information” it contains about operational security.

“Its release to the public would obviously risk jeopardizing the safety of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, their families, and all PSP protectees. I know the safety of these public officials and their families is of paramount importance to all of us and appreciate your understanding that PSP cannot release the report due to those significant security risks,” Paris wrote.

Paris acknowledged the seriousness of the attack, calling it “not just an attack on an individual residence — it was an attack on the very highest levels of government in our Commonwealth.”

File photo Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

Pennsylvania House Republican Leader Jesse Topper recently called for state police to release more details on how the attack happened.

The review by Miller focused on security protocols and infrastructure and was separate from the ongoing investigation into the April 13 arson attack, which is being handled by prosecuting authorities.

Paris stated that the state police takes “full responsibility for the security failures that allowed this attack to take place.”

Shapiro, a Democrat, has said he has confidence in his state police security detail and has credited them with whisking his family from the burning residence during the attack.

State police also provide security at the governor’s personal residence in Montgomery County. A police source said a more visible presence was outside the home in the days after the attack.

Cody Balmer, 38, has been charged with attempted homicide, terrorism, and other crimes in connection with the attack. Authorities say he breached the perimeter fence, broke windows, deployed incendiary devices, and then fled the scene before later turning himself in.

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