In the wake of a recent attempt on the life of former President Donald Trump, Butler Township in rural Pennsylvania has found itself at the center of controversy. The township has been receiving an influx of hate mail and angry phone calls, blaming its officers for failing to ensure the safety of the ex-president during the incident. However, Butler Township Manager, Tom Knights, is now speaking out to set the record straight.

Knights asserts that the accusations being hurled at the officers couldn't be further from the truth. In an interview on Tuesday, he defended the actions of the four Butler Township officers assigned to traffic duty, stating that it was they who responded instinctively and raced towards the scene to confront the would-be assassin.

Despite the presence of numerous law enforcement officers from the local, state, and federal levels, it was these Butler Township officers who acted swiftly and followed their training in the face of danger. One officer even clung to the roof where the gunman was perched, showing immense bravery and commitment to protecting the former president.

The attempted assassination occurred when the gunman, identified as Thomas Crooks, opened fire just minutes into Trump's speech. His bullets pierced the former president's ear, resulting in the death of one person in the crowd and leaving two others injured. The incident, which narrowly missed claiming Trump's life, has sparked criticisms of the Secret Service by law enforcement experts and members of both political parties.

The blame game has ensued, with various law enforcement agencies pointing fingers at each other over who was responsible for securing the building from which the gunman operated. While the Secret Service has laid the blame on local authorities without specifying particular agencies, Knights firmly states that the Butler Township officers did everything within their power to stop Crooks.

The officers were initially assigned to manage traffic outside the Trump rally at the Butler Farm Show, an outdoor venue. However, when they received a radio call about a suspicious person on the roof of a nearby building owned by a glass research company, they immediately converged on the scene. Unfortunately, due to their proximity, they were unable to spot the gunman until two officers climbed to a lower roof level. From there, they witnessed the presence of the individual with a weapon.

As one officer grasped the roof edge to get a better view, the gunman aimed his rifle at him, causing the officer to duck his head and lose his grip. He fell about 8 feet to the ground while the other officer who boosted him up also radioed for backup, informing them about the armed individual on the roof. Knights admits it is unclear how much time elapsed before the shooter began firing at Trump.

The building the shooter had managed to infiltrate was situated less than 150 yards away from the stage where Trump was speaking. In pre-event security meetings, the building had been identified as a "point of interest," but it remains unclear which agency was tasked with guarding it. Security at the rally involved officers from various agencies, including the Butler Township Police Department, which has 12 full-time patrol officers.

The Secret Service has claimed responsibility for securing the inner perimeter, leaving the protection of the outer perimeter buildings to local authorities. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle mentioned the presence of local police in the area responsible for the outer perimeter. However, she did not specify the exact agency.

Amidst the ongoing criticism and blame, Knights emphasizes the necessity of a thorough investigation to shed light on the events leading up to the attempted assassination. He cautions against snap judgments until the investigation is completed, expressing hope that it will provide clarity on what transpired at the event.

The incident has stirred significant controversy, with Stephanie Gosk reporting from Butler Township and Rich Schapiro from New York.