HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania State Police say they are changing how threats against elected officials are handled after a review found that some lawmakers were not notified quickly enough about online threats allegedly made against them.
The case involves Adam Berryhill, 42, of Lebanon City, who was charged May 6 with terroristic threats. Authorities allege Berryhill made online threats targeting multiple Democratic state lawmakers, including lawmakers representing parts of Berks County.
In a letter sent to Pennsylvania House and Senate leadership, PSP Acting Commissioner Lt. Col. George Bivens said the original threat information was received on April 30 from the U.S. Capitol Police. The information was then sent to the Pennsylvania Criminal Intelligence Center and passed along to PSP’s Tactical Intelligence Unit for investigation.
The full Pennsylvania State Police letter is available here:
View the PSP letter PDF
According to the letter, investigators were able to identify Berryhill within hours. Initial notifications were made to Capitol Police, the House Sergeant-at-Arms and the Speaker’s chief of staff.
PSP said the issue came later, when additional posts were found that named more lawmakers. Bivens said a review showed that not all updated information was passed along to the proper legislative contacts in a timely way.
The review found that PSP’s Executive Services Office did not have real-time access to the additional victim information being developed by investigators. PSP also said members of the Tactical Intelligence Unit did not realize that updated notifications had not been sent to Capitol Police or the Sergeant-at-Arms.
Bivens said the investigation itself and the threat mitigation steps were handled properly, but the communication process between agencies and offices needed to be improved.
As a result, PSP says all future threat information involving elected officials will be routed through the Pennsylvania Criminal Intelligence Center. The Tactical Intelligence Unit will then notify Capitol Police, the House and Senate Sergeant-at-Arms, PSP Executive Services and PSP’s Policy and Legislative Affairs Office.
PSP says those notifications will also include a designated point of contact so lawmakers and staff know who to reach with questions.
Bivens also said PSP is creating a political violence threat unit within the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. That unit will focus on threats against elected officials and work with intelligence investigators to improve coordination.
Berryhill was arrested after charges were filed in Lebanon County. PSP says the new procedures are meant to prevent similar notification delays in future cases.
More updates will be provided as information becomes available.
