BEACHWOOD, N.J. — The U.S. Secret Service dispatched its Civil Disturbance Unit to Ocean County last week in anticipation of unrest surrounding a “No Kings” protest against former President Donald Trump, though the event concluded without major incident.
The protest, held outside the Ocean County Mall, was part of a series of demonstrations organized nationwide. However, local turnout was significantly lower than expected, and the rally ended without arrests or major disruption.
In preparation for potential unrest, the Secret Service deployed personnel and resources to the region. The Beachwood Volunteer Fire Department confirmed over the weekend that its station served as a staging location for the Secret Service unit while in New Jersey for recruitment events.
“This weekend the Beachwood Fire Department assisted the US Secret Service by staging their Civil Disturbance Unit at our station,” the department stated in a public post, adding that the unit did not respond to any calls during its time in town.
The deployment was part of a broader precautionary strategy by federal authorities monitoring political demonstrations nationwide. Secret Service officials have not commented publicly on their activity in Ocean County.
Protest ends quietly as attention fades
Though federal resources were positioned in advance, the Ocean County protest did not escalate to the level seen in other U.S. cities where counterprotests or large crowds required active intervention.
By Monday, little attention remained on the event, which organizers had initially promoted heavily online. Local police did not report any incidents or traffic disruptions tied to the demonstration.
The presence of the Civil Disturbance Unit in Beachwood was described by fire officials as logistical and precautionary.
A low-turnout protest drew federal attention but ended without incident as Secret Service personnel staged quietly in Beachwood.
The Beachwood Fire Department later said the deployment was part of a community outreach program for recruitment by the Secret Service.
