Arson Attack ‘Altered’ Protection For Officials, Acting PA State Police Leader Says

The acting head of the Pennsylvania State Police told lawmakers that a brazen arson attack on the Governor’s Residence has altered how the agency protects the state’s top elected officials.

Lt. Col. George Bivens, the acting commissioner of the state police, testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee Tuesday on the proposed roughly $2 billion budget.

Much of the discussion centered on the security of Gov. Josh Shapiro, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, and their families following the April 13, 2025, attack at the official residence in Harrisburg.

“It really has changed how we do business,” Bivens said. “It really has changed our approach out of necessity.”

The governor, lieutenant governor, and their families receive state police security details, which has been standard for decades. Specially trained troopers provide close protection, monitor potential threats, secure residences, and scope out locations where the state’s top leaders are expected to visit.

In the wake of the attack, the state police have increased sworn and unsworn staffing for the protection operations, which have added nearly $6 million to costs.

The spending comes as the Pennsylvania General Services Department projects that repairs and security upgrades at the nearly 30,000-square-foot Governor’s Residence will reach $38.7 million, with roughly $1 million for upgrades to Shapiro’s private home, according to PennLive.com.

Cody Balmer, of Central Pennsylvania, scaled the fence at the state-owned Governor’s Residence with a hammer and Molotov cocktails last April. He lit a fire that caused extensive damage while the Shapiro family and guests were inside. Balmer later pleaded guilty to the charges and is in state prison.

The protective operations security overhaul extends beyond the official residence.

Senators questioned approximately $1.3 million in improvements at Shapiro’s private home in Abington Township, Montgomery County.

Bivens described a “layered approach” at the personal residence involving technology far beyond that of an average homeowner.

The security includes an AI platform integrated into security cameras that can identify the number of intruders and track the locations of responding troopers in real time. It can also be viewed from several locations.

“That AI platform can highlight what camera we need to be looking at,” Bivens said.

“It gives us tremendous capability that we did not have,” he added.

Bivens said the state police are using technology to cut down on staffing costs related to adding more troopers.

The state police’s leader said his agency is tracking threats and violence against elected officials and hate crimes as they have increased nationwide.

Bivens explained that cost for the governor and lieutenant governor’s protection, including staffing, vehicles, and magnetometers, comes from the state police budget, as has been practice.

While several Republican senators said they do not object to the governor’s safety, they raised concerns over the accountability for the expenses.

State Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill, a Republican from York County, questioned how costs for security upgrades were determined.

Bivens noted that while the state police made recommendations based on internal and external reviews, some “expensive options” were declined by the governor’s office to maintain the home’s aesthetics.

A property dispute and lawsuits have arisen between Shapiro and his neighbors in Abington Township. The Philadelphia Inquirer dug into the issue this week.

State Sen. Jarrett Coleman, a Republican who represents Upper Bucks County and part of the Lehigh Valley, pressed Bivens on the security for Shapiro’s personal home.

Bivens said plans for a security fence at the private home were scrapped after the state police could not obtain local zoning approval.

When questioned, Bivens said the fencing is now being repurposed for the Pennsylvania State Police Academy in Hershey, which is being rebuilt.

According to Spotlight PA, the Pennsylvania Treasury, which is led by Republican Stacy Garrity, has not yet paid some bills related to the private home upgrades. Garrity is challenging the Democratic governor in this year’s election.

Bivens, a veteran of the state police, defended the need for the security measures, citing a national rise in threats and violence against officials both all parties.

“I have never seen the number of threats against the governor that we have seen,” Bivens said, adding that future governors will likely face similar risks.

Bivens explained that the agency has also assisted members of the legislature with security reviews and threats. The agency is also looking at how it can assist lawmakers with additional security.

Since the attack on the Governor’s Residence, state police have begun providing security for some leadership in the legislature, Bivens stated.

The state police have a current cap of 4,884 troopers and are seeking to add more sworn officials.

In addition to the protective operations, the state police are requesting additional funding for overtime to manage a high-profile 2026, which will see Pennsylvania host World Cup matches in Philadelphia and the nation’s 250th birthday celebrations. The state police also plans to spend more on technology.