HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) announced the findings of an independent security review conducted by Jeffrey Miller Consulting following the April 13, 2025, arson attack at the Governor’s Residence. The review outlined vulnerabilities in existing protocols and proposed enhancements to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“The Pennsylvania State Police worked to provide Mr. Miller and his team with the information they needed to assess security protocols before, during, and after the incident, and we are grateful to Mr. Miller and his team for completing their independent examination in a timely and professional manner,” said Colonel Christopher Paris. “We have already implemented several of Mr. Miller’s recommendations and we plan to continue making improvements to our security systems following a thorough review of the final report.”
Incident Summary
The breach occurred in the early hours of April 13, when 38-year-old Cody Balmer of Harrisburg scaled a nearly 7-foot-high fence surrounding the Governor’s Residence. Armed with Molotov cocktails, Balmer smashed windows and set fires in multiple rooms, endangering Governor Josh Shapiro, his family, and guests celebrating Passover. No injuries were reported, and firefighters quickly extinguished the flames.
Balmer, later arrested, faces charges that include attempted homicide, arson, terrorism, and additional offenses. Authorities reported that he had expressed grievances over perceived injustices toward Palestinians, though it remains unclear whether his actions were targeted at Shapiro due to his Jewish faith.
Findings and Response
Jeffrey B. Miller, a former Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner, conducted the security evaluation to identify gaps and assess PSP’s response. The review found vulnerabilities in monitoring systems, duty assignments, and reaction protocols, which enabled Balmer to breach the perimeter undetected.
Improvement measures already enacted include updates to monitoring technology and procedural changes for better incident response. Detailed recommendations in the final report are under consideration, though they will not be disclosed to the public for security reasons.
This attack, described by Shapiro as a stark reminder of the threat of political violence, emphasized the importance of robust security for public officials. The PSP expressed commitment to implementing the necessary changes to protect the residence and its occupants. “The State Police are doing everything possible to prevent anything like this attack from ever happening again,” Paris affirmed.
The measures reflect Pennsylvania’s continued efforts to ensure the safety of its leaders and restore public confidence in the security of government facilities.
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