Following the 'gate-crashers' incident at the White House, Senator Adams calls on the law enforcement community to examine the role that dignitary intimidation plays in causing high-level security breaches.

MEDIA ADVISORY

NYS SENATOR ERIC ADAMS, CHAIR OF THE VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AND FORMER NYPD CAPTAIN, RESPONDS TO GATE CRASHERS AT THE WHITE HOUSE.  SENATOR ADAMS CALLS ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY TO EXAMINE THE ROLE THAT DIGNITARY INTIMIDATION PLAYS IN CAUSING HIGH-LEVEL SECURITY BREACHES.

NYS Senator Eric Adams, Homeland Security Chairman and former NYPD Captain, scrutinizes the breakdown in procedure that enabled guests who were never vetted by security authorities to meet and socialize with President Obama at a White House state dinner and calls on law enforcement to examine “dignitary intimidation” and its role in high-level security breaches. 

Senator Adams’ statement:  “I cannot recall a single major event to which I was assigned when I was a law enforcement officer that did not involve someone challenging my authority to bar his or her entry.  Complaints that result when security regulations demand that individuals be confronted or excluded often impact negatively on the career of the officer against whom a grievance is lodged. 

“Protecting a dignitary is an extremely demanding responsibility.  Security personnel should never have to be concerned that enforcing a guideline might jeopardize their career.  It impairs their efficacy and compromises their mission.  Their rigorous behavior must receive the endorsement of their supervisors.  It is imperative that when we examine what went wrong at the White House, we scrutinize the role played by ‘dignitary intimidation’ in eroding the effectiveness of high level security.”    

###