Imagine in one of the most iconic and beautiful buildings in the word, the US Capitol. Imagine going to work in a place where you try to keep people safe, democracy on track, preserve order, work to allow our country’s elected representatives in the House and Senate do their jobs.
Then imagine having to go to work in a place where your fellow country men and women came dressed for battle (Kevlar, helmets, shields, goggles, tactical vests and gear) armed to the teeth (home made napalm, pipe bombs, spears, clubs, bats, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, crutches, plumbing supplies, pool cues, mace, tasers, pepper spray, black flag wasp and hornet spray, WD 40, Fire Extinguishers, piss, shit….and we will never know how many guns, as it is not like this insurrectionist crew was screened) to assault your workplace, your co workers and threaten to hang and shoot people you work to protect on a daily basis in an open insurrection against American democracy at the behest of the President of the United States.
Further imagine after getting the everloving shit kicked out of you for hours by a crowd that outnumbered you by about 50 to 1 that included active military, reserve military, retired military, active police officers, retired police officers, teachers, doctors, lawyers, real estate agents, pool company owners, gym owners, general contractors, fucking nuts of every variety. Fighting quite literally for your life while holding out for support military support that you believed would come but never did, only supported by the local law enforcement organizations (thank you metropolitan police department MPD!) that were scrambling as fast as they could, all while screamed at by the crowd told that you are supporting the wrong side, are a traitor and are going to die.
Then you are accused by the other side of being complicit in the attack and allowing it to happen. Accused of Facilitating the entrance of those you spent hours fighting against, inviting the invaders into the Capitol.
Next the gaslighting begins, the President says they were peace loving people and “we love you” “go home in peace”, the very Members you fought to protect and keep safe start saying thing like “a regular tourist day at the Capitol”, “we are told that the Feds are harassing peaceful protestors” (remember he is talking about those who have been arrested for violently attacking police officers and the US itself) been told the crowd was “in a a happy festive atmosphere until the police set upon the crowd” and told “the protestor (yes a member of Congress has decided she was just a peaceful protestor) who was shot while trying to get into the house chamber where Members of Congress were trapped, was unnecessary use of force”, been told that “only Trump supporters were harmed that day (150+ cops would disagree), they say this was no insurrection”, Jesus Christ, they started making speeches on the Floor of the House and in Committee hearings that “this was much to do about nothing”.
Imagine that the next day, and the next day and the next day and the next day, you go back to work tired, exhausted, missing your family due to the extreme scheduling you have been under since 1/6 working well over 68 hours a week protecting these fucking jerks, 12 hour shifts so you don’t see much of your spouse, children, pets, whatever is important to your mental well being.
There you have the life of a Capitol Police Officer. Sounds like a pretty exciting life ….. by the way, they are recruiting and the department is down about 200 cops and that is not counting those on leave due to injury on 1/6. The injuries include concussions, broken bones, crushed spinal disks, severed fingers( fully severed as in gone) eyes gouged out, respiratory illnesses due to chemical agent exposure, death, (although the DC ME thinks that a healthy police officer died of natural causes after collapsing while the attack was ongoing and there is video evidence of his attack with chemical agents) suicide and mental and emotional trauma from being involved in a mid evil battle in the space around the Capitol.
Sounds like a pretty good job with real job satisfaction and a high level of moral. You can apply to join this under appreciated team at
https://www.uscp.gov/careers
At least the insurance is pretty good, but you may need it if this happens again.
