Capitol Police Officer Appreciation Thread

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34. Starfish, thank you for this

In the immediate aftermath the USCP was getting the ever loving shit kicked out of them. One officer took his own life, others turned in their weapons. They were accused of being disloyal, cowardly, complicit, unqualified. They were ridiculed on Twitter, Facebook, all forms of social media and old school media. They did not deserve that beating.

Their moral was low, they were battered, beaten and bruised, set upon by a mob sent by the President of the United States. This is a department of 1800 sworn officers and they were vastly outnumbered and many Monday morning quarterbacks including many here were blaming them for not shooting and killing people. It was a credit to their training that once they were set upon, they did not take the easy rout and Start shooting people.

The one person who was shot (and only one shot was fired not a hail of gunfire after the first round showing true training) was fired under what the rules of engagement dictated, to protect life. There were still Members of the House on the Floor and Galleries. That officer now has to live with the taking of a life, even though justified.

Although today has been traumatic for many, it will help the healing process, unfortunately, like pulling the bandaid off and letting air heal the wound. It hurts but hopefully leads to healing

Thank You to the USCP and Metropolitan and Fairfax, and VA State Police and Arlington Police and The Airport Authority Police and ATF and FBI and USSS and Departments that arrived on the Senate side, many from Maryland that I did not see, many arrived with out the proper gear and threw themselves into the battle to save democracy against Trumps “army of goons” but mostly to the USCP who were vilified.

Please remember the quote from MPD Officer Hodges.

“If it wasn't my job, I would have done that for free. .. It was absolutely my pleasure to crush a white nationalist insurrection... and we'll do it as many times as it takes.” Thank you, D.C. Police Officer Daniel Hodges.