A second law enforcement officer who defended the U.S. Capitol throughout the mob assault on Jan. 6 has died by suicide, the acting main of the Metropolitan Police Section stated this 7 days.
Chief Robert J. Contee III informed a Dwelling committee on Tuesday that Officer Jeffrey Smith, a 12-year-veteran of the Metro Police Office, experienced killed himself not long ago. Yet another officer, Howard Liebengood, who joined the Capitol Law enforcement in 2005, died by suicide a few times soon after the assault. Liebengood was 51.
“Other damage from this traumatic working day will be greatly felt but possibly unacknowledged,” Contee reported. “Legislation enforcement education neither anticipates nor prepares for hrs of hand-to-hand battle.”
Smith’s loved ones could not right away be arrived at for comment. Liebengood’s family declined requests for an interview by way of their lawyer.
Five individuals, like Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, died in activities linked to the attack. The New York Times and The Linked Push have noted that Sicknick was strike in the head by a rioter wielding a hearth extinguisher. Contee claimed in his testimony that 65 of his officers were being wounded in what he explained as a “fight.”
“Numerous a lot more sustained injuries from the assault — scratches, bruises, eyes burning from bear mace — that they did not even hassle to report,” Contee claimed.
The Capitol Law enforcement union reported in a assertion Wednesday that nearly 140 D.C. and Capitol law enforcement officers had been hurt, and that one officer would probable eliminate an eye. Gus Papathanasiou, the chairman of the union, stated some officers had not been issued helmets prior to the attack and sustained head injuries.
Papathanasiou’s assertion was in response to the shut-doorway testimony of Yogananda Pittman, the acting main of the Capitol Police. Pittman informed the Home Appropriations Committee on Tuesday that the department realized two times before the assault that customers of militia groups and white supremacist corporations would be amid those people coming to the Capitol and that some of them could be armed. But, she admitted, her crew “did not do plenty of” to prepare.
Contee stated the Metropolitan Law enforcement Section “is doing the job to support the emotional properly being of our officers who skilled this.”
Liebengood, who lived in Vienna, Virginia, was assigned to the Senate Division. He was born in Manhattan, Kansas, according to his obituary. He is survived by his spouse, Serena a brother, John a sister, Anne Winters three nephews and a niece.
On Jan. 10, former Secretary of Condition John F. Kerry called the fatalities of Sicknick and Liebengood “a tragic loss of two patriots who used their professions defending the halls of democracy.”
Kerry, a former senator, stated that for the duration of his past several years in business office, Liebengood was stationed following to one particular of his workplaces in the Russell Setting up.
“Howie always had a smile on his deal with, but he also confirmed excellent treatment for the protection of the young staff who worked guiding our business doorways,” Kerry tweeted.
Barry Pollack, a lawyer for Liebengood’s loved ones, stated they “wish to grieve privately as they mourn the sudden and heartbreaking reduction.” Pollack reported Liebengood “will be sorely missed.”
“His demise is a tragedy that has deprived all of us a committed public servant,” Pollack stated.
If you or another person you know is at chance of suicide make sure you connect with the U.S. National Suicide Avoidance Lifeline at 800-273-8255, textual content Communicate to 741741 or pay a visit to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/sources for added methods.
