Alicia Powers was astonished to discover that U.S. Secret Service agents entered her hair salon without permission during Vice President Kamala Harris' visit to Pittsfield.
The Berkshire Eagle reported that Powers, the owner of Four One Three Salon, found out about the unauthorized entry while on vacation in Cape Cod.
The incident occurred on July 27, 2023, when Powers was away. She received an alert on her phone around 8:12 a.m. on Saturday, indicating activity on her salon's back porch. A Secret Service agent had taped over the salon's security camera, further investigating the premises.
Footage revealed a female agent on the salon’s porch who later entered the building. This was followed by numerous individuals entering and leaving the salon for about two hours, starting at 12:42 p.m.
Powers noted that EMS workers and deputies from the Berkshire County Sheriff’s office were being directed to use the salon’s bathroom by someone dressed in black. Upon returning, Powers found the back door unlocked and the bathroom in disarray.
Powers expressed her frustration and concern over the incident. "I'm the kind of person that would have set up coffee and doughnuts for them had they asked me for permission," she remarked, emphasizing the importance of respect and communication.
After discovering the situation, Powers contacted the Pittsfield Police, who confirmed that local officers did not use the salon’s facilities. The police helped her get in touch with the Secret Service's New York office.
Initially, the New York Secret Service office denied any involvement, which added to Powers' frustration. However, it was later confirmed that the incident was indeed carried out by a Secret Service agent.
The Boston office of the Secret Service subsequently apologized to Powers, offering to cover the costs of cleaning, any damages, and her private alarm bill. Powers stated that she appreciated the apology but felt that more accountability was needed.
"We're a small business. We've all worked incredibly hard to build this business. This is our livelihood. And it could have been taken from all of my 12 employees in a flash," she said, highlighting the potential risks that the situation posed to her business.
She continued to express her dissatisfaction, reflecting on the unattended back door and the state of the bathroom. "What could have happened in that hour and a half or two hours that you guys left the building unlocked?” she questioned.
Secret Service spokesperson Melissa McKenzie addressed the situation by stating, "We hold these relationships in the highest regard and our personnel would not enter, or instruct our partners to enter, a business without the owner's permission."
Powers shared further insights, mentioning that she continuously monitors her salon through security cameras. “Because I have cameras everywhere,” she noted, which allowed her to track the activities on the day of the incident.
She recalled a conversation with an EMS worker who mentioned that someone in black encouraged them to use the salon's bathroom throughout the afternoon. This indicated that the unauthorized entry was organized and directed.
Reflecting on her various conversations, Powers described an interaction with a Secret Service representative who initially dismissed her concerns. “He was telling me that it couldn't have been them; it's not what they do. They ask for permission,” she recounted.
Despite the eventual acknowledgment and apologies from the Secret Service, Powers remained unsettled by the entire episode. "This isn't OK. I'm a very private person. I usually don't put myself out there like that. … I just wanted some kind of accountability,” she concluded.
