The recent assassination and attempted assassination of two Minnesota state officials and their spouses sent shockwaves through the law enforcement and public safety communities. What was once considered a threat primarily at the federal level is now becoming an increasingly dangerous reality for state and local officials.
According to Time, the number of threats and concerning statements directed at members of Congress — investigated by the U.S. Capitol Police — has risen sharply, from 3,939 in 2017 to 9,625 in 2021. That trend continued in 2024, with 9,474 incidents reported. The trajectory is clear: political violence is escalating, and it’s no longer confined to Washington, D.C.
Local and state law enforcement are on the front lines of this threat.
Understanding the threat landscape
Historically, the term “assassination” was reserved for high-level national targets or used to describe events overseas in unstable regions. Now, that threat is domestic and hyper-local. State legislators, mayors, city council members and judges are increasingly in the crosshairs of ideologically motivated or grievance-fueled actors.
A 2015 U.S. Secret Service study on attacks against federal facilities found that assailants were often motivated by retaliation, ideology, personal gain, or the pursuit of notoriety. Critically, the study also outlined common pre-attack behaviors — weapon acquisition, target surveillance, concealment of intentions and dry runs — all reportedly exhibited by the Minnesota suspect.
Operational imperatives for law enforcement
Local agencies must recognize that the protection of public officials is no longer a federal-only responsibility. As threats rise, so does the need for proactive, community-based threat mitigation strategies. To meet this challenge, agencies must adopt practical strategies that address emerging threats at the local level.
1. Establish and maintain relationships with officials
Every department should know who the elected officials are in their jurisdiction — and not just the mayor. Build relationships with city council members, school board officials, judges, and local representatives. To build an effective foundation, agencies should consider the following actions when engaging with local officials:
- Maintain accurate home addresses and contact information.
- Encourage officials to request property checks or “drive-bys.”
- Provide them with a direct point of contact within the department.
- Educate them on when and how to report suspicious activity.
Even a simple, irregular patrol presence around a public official’s home can deter potential surveillance or targeting.
Training tip: Officers assigned to patrol or community engagement should be briefed on local elected officials in their area of responsibility. Share contact protocols and expectations for property checks or welfare requests.
2. Monitor and act on pre-attack indicators
Threat assessment begins with recognizing behaviors. Surveillance of homes or offices, unusual loitering, individuals asking about schedules or access points — these behaviors should trigger documentation, follow-up inquiries, or coordination with a threat assessment team.
Many attackers exhibit leakage or concerning behavior before acting. That’s why it’s critical for agencies to implement or support multidisciplinary threat assessment teams, ideally coordinated at the county level, that:
- Collect tips across jurisdictions.
- Analyze behavioral patterns.
- Vet and disseminate threat-related intelligence.
Without centralized coordination, red flags in neighboring towns can easily be missed.
Training tip: Include real-world examples of pre-attack behaviors in in-service or roll-call training. Encourage officers to document and report suspicious activity, even when it seems minor or disconnected.
3. Secure public events
Every public event where officials will be present should be evaluated through a threat and vulnerability assessment. The presence of uniformed officers adds more than visibility — it provides early detection and rapid response capabilities. To reduce vulnerabilities at public events, departments should follow these core planning and deployment practices:
- Position officers at entry points and near officials.
- Use metal detection, bag checks, or credentialing when appropriate.
- Set up physical buffer zones between officials and the public to create reactionary space.
These steps should be scalable, based on the size and nature of the event, and should always include an evacuation plan.
Training tip: Use post-event briefings to evaluate security posture and discuss what went well and what could be improved. Train officers on buffer zone setups and the importance of positioning for rapid response.
4. Promote residential and personal security
Encourage public officials to adopt basic home security measures:
- Alarm systems and exterior cameras.
- Motion-activated lighting.
- Timed interior lighting to simulate occupancy.
- Doorbell cameras and strict protocols for answering the door — especially at night.
In the Minnesota case, the suspect knocked on an official’s door at 2 a.m., falsely claiming to be a police officer with a warrant. Officials should be reminded that any late-night law enforcement encounter can and should be verified through 911 before opening the door.
Training tip: Encourage beat officers to offer basic crime prevention advice during property checks, and be alert for indicators of surveillance (e.g., parked vehicles, individuals photographing residences).
5. Train staff in situational awareness
Staff and aides are often the first line of observation. Educate them on how to identify and respond to potential pre-attack behaviors:
- Watch for individuals approaching with aggressive or erratic behavior.
- Monitor social media activity tied to officials or their events.
- Report repeated or escalating contact from individuals exhibiting grievance-based messaging.
Situational awareness must become part of the operational culture — especially for those serving or supporting public-facing roles.
Training tip: Include support staff in agency threat briefings when appropriate. Develop quick-reference tip sheets on suspicious behavior indicators and reporting procedures.
“The stakes are no longer theoretical — they’re real, local and increasingly lethal.”
Prevent and respond
Law enforcement has a dual responsibility: respond to incidents and prevent them. In today’s climate, public officials are high-value targets, and their protection cannot be left to reactive measures alone.
Departments must build threat prevention into their patrol and investigative frameworks. That includes using behavioral indicators, community partnerships, intelligence-sharing and professional presence to harden soft targets and interdict would-be attackers before violence occurs. The stakes are no longer theoretical. They are real, local and increasingly lethal.
