Security Preps Underway Ahead Of JD Vance's Visit To Oklahoma

Final preparations are underway ahead of a high-profile visit from GOP Vice Presidential pick, JD Vance.

He’ll make a stop in Oklahoma City on Friday for a private fundraising event.

Oklahoma Department of Public Safety Commissioner, Tim Tipton, says local law enforcement officials are working closely with federal agents.

“Whether they're current president, candidate, or former president, if you're there to protect them, you've got to do whatever you've got to do to protect them,” said Tipton, who also called the near-assassination of former President Donald Trump a complete failure in security protocol.

“The entire setup of allowing somebody with homicidal intent to have a line of site with a long rifle that close to President Trump was a complete failure of the mission [...] that's like threat assessment 101,” said Tipton, which is what Oklahoma Highway Patrol and numerous local and federal law enforcement agencies are busy focusing on ahead of Friday.

Tipton says the Secret Service scopes things out in advance, before coming up with a coordination plan between local jurisdictions.

They're also monitoring the investigation into the former President’s Pennsylvania rally to identify any potential gaps in their own coverage.

“I wouldn't say at this time we have any particular threats, but its common sense that when that polarizing of a candidate comes into town, those threats have a potential,” said Tipton, who added that they’ve seen a growing number of threats made against elected officials since 2020.

The Oklahoma Counter Terrorism Intelligence Center is also operating 24/7 to monitor any threats.

Oklahoma law enforcement is prepared due to recent experience from high-profile visits to the sooner state paired with ongoing training.

President Barack Obama:

1. In 2012, the TransCanada pipe yard near Cushing
2. In 2013, a tour of Moore tornado damage
3. In 2015, Obama also visited El Reno Federal Correctional Center

President Trump:

1. In 2015, He visited the Oklahoma State Fair and spoke to a crowd of 5,000.
2. In January 2016, Trump spoke to a crowd of about 9,000 people at the Oral Roberts University Mabee Center
3. In Feb 2016, Trump rally at Cox Convention Center.
4. in September 2016, Trump made a brief stop in Norman to attend a private fundraiser at a home near the University of Oklahoma's campus.
5. In 2020, held a rally in Tulsa for his re-election campaign.

President Joe Biden:

1. In 2021, visited Tulsa to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre.