Capitol Police To Get COVID-19 Vaccines In Wake Of Jan. 6 Siege

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Capitol Police will soon receive enough COVID-19 vaccines for its entire workforce, officials said Thursday. The vaccines are being made available a month after a mob of supporters of now-former President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol.

More than three dozen members of the Capitol Police have tested positive for the coronavirus in the wake of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Most of the rioters who entered the Capitol and fought with Capitol Police on the Capitol grounds were not wearing masks.

“Thanks to the efforts of the Congressional Leadership, especially House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Administration, enough doses of the COVID-19 vaccines have been secured to vaccinate all USCP personnel,” Acting U.S. Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman said Thursday in a statement.

Pittman also acknowledged the role of retired Lt. General Russel Honoré, who is leading an external review of Capitol Complex security at Pelosi's request.

One Capitol Police officer — Brian Sicknick — died from injuries during the siege on the Capitol by pro-Trump extremists, according to the Capitol police department.

Along with dozens of injuries to police officers seeking to quell the insurrection, Robert Contee, acting chief of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, told members of Congress during a closed-door session last week that Jeffrey Smith, a D.C. Police officer, and Capitol Police Officer Howard Liebengood both “took their own lives in the aftermath of that battle.”

Four rioters died at the Capitol on Jan. 6, including a woman who was shot to death by a Capitol police officer as she tried to enter the area of the Capitol near where members of Congress were meeting.

Pittman said the U.S. Capitol Police expect delivery of the vaccines soon and are working with the Office of Attending Physician of the U.S. Congress on logistics to administer them to the Capitol Police employees “as quickly and safely as possible.”

The U.S. Capitol Police force has more than 2,300 officers and civilian employees, and has an annual budget of about $460 million.

“The Department is grateful for the continued support of the Congressional community, especially during these unprecedented times," Pittman said, "and I am tremendously grateful for the dedication of our officers who have worked tirelessly and sacrificed to uphold our mission.”