Why Are Capitol Police Officers Departing En Masse?

Capitol Police Officers

More than 70 law enforcement officers have left Washington, DC’s Capitol Police force following the chaotic event of January 6th Democrats like to call an “insurrection.” 

Officers have continued to resign despite a proposal from House Democrats to offer $1.9 billion in additional funding to the department. The proposal includes back pay for overtime hours, hazard pay, trauma support, retention bonuses, and expanded access to equipment and training.

The proposal allocates $22 million to boost security for lawmakers and establishes a quick-reaction team that would function as a standing force of the DC National Guard.

The bill cleared the House Thursday by a single vote, with many Democrats opposing the bill based on suspected police participation in the event.

Lawmakers who oppose the bill include Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA).

“I am frankly tired of any time where there is a failure in our system of policing, and the first response is for us to give them more money,” argues Omar, adding that she observed failures in “police preparedness and procedures and the lack of political will” to stop civilians storming into the Capitol. “It’s not clear to me how the supplemental addresses that.”

Republicans argue the bill was crafted too quickly and without input from the GOP. “By choosing to forge ahead with this bill today, I’m concerned that my colleagues are more interested in making headlines instead of headway,” says Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX).

Capitol Police Union Chairman Gus Papathanasiou described the supplemental package as a “good first step” but not enough to retain officers.

Roughly 25% of the department’s officers are close to retirement and many of the younger officers are “considering applying to other law enforcement agencies,” he added.

One police officer died and several were injured during the January 6th event at the Capitol and another died by suicide shortly afterwards. A third officer was killed in April when his car was smashed into a roadblock by a civilian’s vehicle.

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6 Thoughts to “Why Are Capitol Police Officers Departing En Masse?”

  1. Robert Richey

    Tell the truth about who died and how they died.

  2. PeterAllen

    These officers have a racket going on as they hardly ever have anything to do and when something happens to give them a little scare and they can get there fat pension, they resign! What a bunch of bozos!

  3. BARBARA

    WITH THE CAPITOL POLICE ——-ONE OF THEM MUST KNOW SOMETHING AND THEY NEED TO TELL US — WHO GAVE THE ORDER.. TO STAND DOWN. THERE IS TOO MANY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS THAT NEED OT GET OUT. TO ANY OF THE POLICE NEED TO COME OUT AND TELL THE PUBLIC. STOP PROTECTING THE PERSON. BECAUSE THE ONE WHO GAVE THE ORDER IS THE CRIMINAL NOT THE OFFICE WHO WAS JUST DOING WHAT HE WAS TOLD.— SO PLEASE COME FORWARD AND TALK. LETS GET THIS CLEARED UP NOW.!!!! WHERE THEY THREATEN IF THEY CAME AND TALKED.

  4. Laura Wagner

    I am always sorry when good officers are abused by bad actors. The inconsistency of the dems on messaging is part of the problem. They do not respect an officer’s right to self-defense in the face of drug-addled violent people or knife wielding individuals. No, they support those that are pushing the violence. Given that, I do not blame the officers for walking away. I do blame those that demonize them, only to scream for the police at the first sign of trouble headed their way. The dems are nothing more than theatrical hypocrites.

  5. Billy W

    Democrat’s are finding they can not buy everyone , some despise the way the top Dem’s in Congress are acting like they have all the answers They have found them lieing about the Jan. ^ event.

  6. Shadow

    What would you expect would when you announce that police are the reason for racist behavior among people today. Further more it’s what happens when you refuse adding security to an event that you know there was a bombing threat that week. For several weeks to months beforehand. Then you go and bash the first responders in during police awareness week. While still demanding defunding of said first responders. Now you have insulted every American citizens and first responders by flying terrorists organizations flags above federal emissary buildings.
    AMERICANS ARE GETTING FRD UP WITH YOUR CRAP! Keep it up and you will have a civil war and a target wanted poster with rewards for your deaths. Not whether or not you can be brought in alive. That what you democratic people are doing now. Pushing for no freedoms and restrictions on what we as a people can do while promoting terrorism and supporting them.

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