ANOTHER OPINION: How to fix the Secret Service
What's the problem?
The Secret Service is in trouble. The agency has been plagued by a series of scandals in recent years, including a prostitution scandal in Cartagena, Colombia, and an incident in which an agent drove a government car into a White House barricade.
These scandals have led to calls for the Secret Service to be reformed. Some critics have called for the agency to be disbanded altogether, while others have called for more modest reforms, such as increasing the number of agents and improving training.
What needs to be done?
There is no easy solution to the problems facing the Secret Service. However, there are a number of steps that could be taken to improve the agency.
Increase the number of agents
One of the most important things that could be done to improve the Secret Service is to increase the number of agents. The agency is currently authorized to have 3,200 agents, but it is currently short of that number.
Increasing the number of agents would allow the Secret Service to provide better protection for the president and other high-ranking government officials.
Improve training
Another important step that could be taken to improve the Secret Service is to improve training. The agency's current training program is not as rigorous as it could be.
Improving training would help to ensure that Secret Service agents are better prepared to handle the challenges they face.
Increase accountability
The Secret Service needs to be more accountable to the public. The agency is currently not subject to the same level of oversight as other law enforcement agencies.
Increasing accountability would help to ensure that the Secret Service is operating in a transparent and responsible manner.
Conclusion
The Secret Service is a vital agency that plays an important role in protecting the president and other high-ranking government officials. However, the agency has been plagued by a series of scandals in recent years.
There are a number of steps that could be taken to improve the Secret Service, including increasing the number of agents, improving training, and increasing accountability.
By taking these steps, we can help to ensure that the Secret Service is better prepared to handle the challenges it faces.