More Than 70 Capitol Police Officers Have Left

[applegrove]

More Than 70 Capitol Police Officers Have Left

May 22, 2021 at 1:37 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 17 Comments

https://politicalwire.com/2021/05/22/more-than-70-capitol-police-officers-have-left/

"SNIP......

The Hill: “More than 70 officers have left the U.S. Capitol Police since the Jan. 6 insurrection, according to the department’s union.”

.....SNIP"

[IcyPeas]

1. Wow. this should be a much bigger headline. haven't heard them mention this on the news

from The Hill, linked above:

He added that he also knows “of many younger officers who have confided that they’re considering applying to other law enforcement agencies.”

[ananda]

2. What... white supremacy not tolerated any more?

???

[Ligyron]

9. That's right.

Some were accused of aiding and abetting the insurrectionists and video seems to support it.

I had forgotten that.

[Midnight Writer]

3. These stories frustrate me, because they don't provide the facts needed to evaluate them.

How many total Capitol police are there? What does the number 70 mean in relation to the total work force?

What is the usual attrition rate for a similar time period? Are the officers explaining why they are leaving? Has anyone asked? Are they retiring or resigning mid-career?

How does this affect the functioning of the police force? Is it a bump in the road or a catastrophe?

A news story that raises more questions than it answers. What's the point of that?

I saw a story just yesterday headlined "The best time to see the Flower Moon" that didn't give the date of the Flower Moon. The article promises one thing and didn't deliver.

[IsItJustMe]

4. I know exactly what you are talking about with articles now adays.

It must be an internet thing. Or a lazy thing. Many articles give you no context regarding the story.

[Nay]

16. Maddening. Just maddening. I have no idea where these people studied journalism, if they

ever did. What's so distressing is that you don't need to study journalism for years in school -- just read a journalism textbook and understand how to write a real news story! Of course, these writers SHOULD have editors that demand better, but that's not happening, either.

My feeling is that none of these people are interested in journalism -- it's all fluff. And the fluffy readers can't even tell that there should be more to the story. It's all the effect of TV and the computer age, really. There is no depth to anything anymore. It's all superficial and quick and useless.

Reading a real news story that includes all the points you listed in your post would actually inform the reader. We can't have that.

[Hortensis]

5. The spending bill just passed by 1 vote includes "back pay for overtime, hazard pay,

and retention bonuses, as well as broader access to equipment and expanded training for officers. It also calls for the creation of a quick-reaction team that would be able to respond rapidly to events like the Jan. 6 riot as well as a range of security upgrades to the Capitol complex."

“What keeps me awake at night is not the challenge of hiring and training more police officers, but keeping the officers we have right now. We have many officers on the fence about whether to stay with this department.

It's not a simple thing, of course, but surely choosing for people who believe in the mission of protecting congress from enemies foreign and domestic would be the first step. Some existing officers failed that basic cut. Not that we know just how many. Some walking away should keep going, probably a few should be arrested or at least fired. Some are real losses, and maybe can eventually be persuaded to return.

U.S. Capitol Police Officer Howie Liebengood, a 15-year police veteran, was one of two officers who died by suicide days after the deadly attack on the Capitol that left several dead and 140 officers injured. Liebengood’s death “was a direct result of the trauma and strain from the January 6th attack on the Capitol and the around-the-clock shifts in the subsequent days,” his family said.

The family of Jeffery Smith, who also killed himself after January 6, believe the same thing. He'd be alive if he hadn't been there.

[Scrivener7]

6. Their own higher-ups were willing to sacrifice them. Literally kill them. Surprised it's not ALL

of them.

[C OH Dem]

7. Click the link to "The Hill"

you'll find more detail.

[Wounded Bear]

8. Can't say as I blame them...

they were hung out to dry on 1/6. Now repubs in congress are saying 'Hey! It's all good. Just go back to work. It's fine. Gonna be fine."

[c-rational]

10. I would like to know why no explanation is being sought or given. Also, those offices of the

Capital Police Force that committed suicide - I cannot fathom why no one is also asking why. Actually I can fathom, but why is MSM so mum. The short time since /6 has left me feeling we came much closer to loosing our democracy than most realize.

Let's get these answers first: Why 70 officers have left the force, and why the suicides.

[SergeStorms]

11. Too many tourists this year.

And they're probably expecting more, since the QOP won't investigate January 6th's peak tourist visitation.

[spanone]

12. I don't blame them. They were attacked and got ZERO backup.

I suspect that order game directly from the former guy

[Champp]

13. The republicans have pissed all over the Capitol Police

to perpetuate The Big Lie. It's authentic cancel culture, republican style.

[Klaralven]

14. Out of a total of 2300 officers and civilian employees.

[ShazamIam]

15. I don't think I am the only person who thinks the public has the right to know which Capital police

aided the attackers and what has happened to them as far as charges if any.