The Capitol Police union last week delivered an overwhelming vote of no confidence in their leaders, after the chaos of the January 6 riot...
The Capitol Police union last week delivered an overwhelming vote of no confidence in their leaders, after the chaos of the January 6 riot that saw one of their number killed during the riot, and another take his own life in the days after.
Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman, the first woman and the first African American to preside over the force, was roundly condemned for her leadership.
She took over two days after the riots, on January 8, when her predecessor Steven Sund was forced to resign.
Nevertheless, 92 per cent of union members voted that they did not have confidence in her.
Trump-supporting rioters breached Congress and stormed the building on January 6
The insurrection cost seven people their lives and saw 140 Capitol and Metropolitan Police officers injured
Members of the Capitol Police pay their respects to Brian Sicknick, who was killed in the riot
Her deputy, Chad Thomas, who joined the force in 1996, fared even worse, with 96 per cent having no confidence in him.
Acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda D Pittman (pictured) was subject to a no confidence vote
Worst rated was Captain Ben Smith, who 97 per cent felt failed.
Sean Gallagher, the acting assistant chief for protective and intelligence operations, was also censured, as was Deputy Chief Pickett, Deputy Chief Bowen, and Deputy Chief Waldow.
About 650 officers — out of about 1,500 who could have — took part in the vote, according to internal documents obtained by The Washington Post.
In a statement released on Saturday, Pittman said 'the trauma is still incredibly raw and difficult for the many officers who fought heroically on the 6th.'
She added: 'Since being sworn in on January 8th, my executive team and I have made the well-being of our officers our top priority.
'While progress has been made, more work remains. And I am committed to ensuring every officer gets what they need and deserve.'
The vote comes after the executive board of the Capitol Police union last week called for its members to consider a vote of no confidence.
The board said it decided to hold a vote after reviewing the events on and leading up to the events of January 6, which resulted in the deaths of seven people - four rioters, two Capitol Police officers and one member of the Metropolitan Police - and approximately 140 Capitol and Metropolitan Police officers injured.
Brian Sicknick, 42, died after he was hit in the head with a fire extinguisher during the riot.
Howard Liebengood, 51, died on January 9, while off duty.
Metropolitan Police Officer Jeffrey Smith also died by suicide in the days following the insurrection.
Brian Sicknick, 42, from New Jersey, was killed during the January 6 insurrection
Sicknick lay in honor inside the Capitol Rotunda on February 2 as tributes were paid to his life
'The past week of the impeachment trial showed members of Congress and the entire country, devastating details of the violence that Capitol Police officers faced during the insurrection,' said Gus Papathanasiou, union chairman, in a statement.
'It was the darkest day in the history of the department.'
Papathanasiou said there are leaders within the department that are better suited for leadership.
'We hope Congressional leaders and the entire Capitol Hill community understands that continuing with the current USCP leadership is not an option,' he said.
'The current leadership is just a continuation of the past regimes on this Department and there needs to be accountability. Their failures are inexcusable.
'This vote, which the majority of the officers in the bargaining unit participated in, shows they have lost our trust. The anger in this department is widespread and the trust that has been broken it is not going to be regained.'
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