Trump to receive multi-agency security for Lee County rally

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NAPLES, Fla. – Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will have a team of secret service agents and SWAT members who will work as his personal security, teaming up with local law enforcement to ensure his visit to Lee County runs safely and smoothly Monday.

Trump is expected to speak to a sold-out crowd of more than 8,000 at the Germain Arena in Estero and he will receive near-presidential treatment, said former secret service agent Mike Perl of Naples Security Solutions.

“As a nominee he gets a full secret service detail and it really parallels a full presidential detail, just on a smaller level,” Perl said.

Perl worked several political campaigns, including in 2008 for Trump’s rival, Hillary Clinton. He said Trump will have three secret service agents who likely will rely on partners in Trump’s campaign.

“The agents that are part of that temporary detail may have not ever been to Fort Myers or Southwest Florida before, so it’s up to the local field office to act as the liaison and local area experts in order to coordinate and facilitate the advance of that visit,” Perl said.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office will also play a critical role, said Chris Knott, co-owner of Naples Security Solutions and former SWAT officer with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.

“The campaign trail is obviously a very fluid and dynamic environment which doesn’t always provide for the amount of to-do to do thorough advances and get all of that work under their belt to really safely secure venue, which is why they heavily rely on local entities,” Knott said.

LCSO deputies declined to comment on their safety or traffic protocols, but Knott said they will be tasked with closing roads and providing support for Trump’s motorcade.

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