Another officer, a newer recruit, echoed these sentiments, saying that where he was on the steps to the Rotunda on the east side of the Capitol, he was engaged in hand-to-hand battles trying to fight the attackers off. The Capitol Police has come under fire for its handling of Wednesday's attack. Capitol Police did not respond to BuzzFeed News’ request for comment about the allegations made by officers. How the f--- can you support him?". So I was like, ‘Well, you gotta be kidding.’”. “They just want to make Congress happy. They had all been issued gas masks, for example, but management didn’t tell them to bring them in on the day. I hope y’all ready.’” The officer, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation from his superiors, told BuzzFeed News that it was just a sign of the chaos that was to come, which saw officers regularly finding themselves unprepared and then outmanned and overpowered by the mob. U.S. Capitol Police said "several" officers have been suspended following the siege of Congress. Some officers were seen allowing the mob to advance on the building and posing for selfies. '", "I got called a n----- 15 times today," the officer recalled saying. (CNN) -- U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund is resigning amid criticism over an apparent lack of preparedness to deal with Wednesday's protests on Capitol Hill. Capitol Police did not respond to BuzzFeed News’ request for comment about the allegations made by officers. Black Capitol Police officers say they were called the N-word during the Capitol siege and some officers 'were catering to the rioters'. But it didn’t come from his superiors — instead the officer had to rely on a screenshot from Instagram sent to him by a friend. “You don’t think it’s all hands on deck?”. Management’s inaction left Black police officers especially vulnerable to a mob that had been whipped up by President Donald Trump, a man who has a record of inspiring racist vigilantes to action. By contrast, as of 2018, 52% of Washington Metropolitan police officers were Black. Times Internet Limited. “The State Capitol Police is committed to […] We were getting pepper-sprayed in the face by those protesters — I'm not going to even call them protesters — by those domestic terrorists,” said the officer. Capitol Police officer Lt. Tarik Khalid Johnson wearing a red MAGA hat trying to recruit Trump supporters to help him gain control of the crowd during the Capitol … And instead of being honored by the supporters of a man who likes to call himself the “law and order” president, Black Capitol officers found themselves under attack. Two current Black Capitol Police officers told BuzzFeed News that they were angered by leadership failures that they said put them at risk as racist members of … Is this America? Two Off-Duty Cops Were Arrested After Taking A Selfie During The Attack On The US Capitol BuzzFeed News; Man wearing 'Camp Auschwitz' hoodie at US Capitol riot, others arrested in Hampton Roads area 13News Now; Man in 'Camp Auschwitz' shirt, photographed at U.S. Capitol riot, arrested in Virginia NBC News; Williams: After the Capitol insurrection, we need to know whose side police officers are on. Posted on January 9, 2021, at 4:32 p.m. Only a few dozen guarded the West front of the U.S. Capitol when they were rushed by thousands of … I’m so sick and tired of this shit.’”. Trump supporters confront police and security forces at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 6, 2021. News 2 US Capitol police officers suspended: report. Officer Howard Liebengood, 51, was assigned to the Senate Division and had worked with the department for almost 16 years and died in an off-duty incident, according to the Capitol Police.The department did not release the details of Liebengood’s death, though Punchbowl News reporter Jake Sherman said he died by suicide, citing “several sources.” KRON4 Morning Buzz… Five people died on Wednesday, including a Capitol Police officer. “Congress can bring anybody in the building that they want. In the seven years since Black Lives Matter has become a rallying cry, the image of a white cop deciding how and when to enforce law and order has become ubiquitous. The first glimpse of the deadly tragedy that was about to unfold came at 9 a.m. on the morning of the insurrection for one Black veteran of the US Capitol Police. News. Contact Emmanuel Felton at emmanuel.felton@buzzfeed.com. Two current Black Capitol Police officers told BuzzFeed News that they were angered by leadership failures that they said put them at risk as racist members of the mob stormed the building. Police are warning women of stealthy AF thieves snatching purses and handbags while they pump gas. Is this America? BuzzFeed News spoke to two Black officers who described a harrowing day in which they were forced to endure racist abuse — including repeatedly being called the n-word — as they tried to do their job of protecting the Capitol building, and by extension the very functioning of American democracy.