The second anniversary of the January 6 insurrection on the Capitol is approaching this week. U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger released a statement two years later, calling it one of the darkest days in the nation’s history.
“We must answer this critical question, ‘Could January 6 happen again?’” Manger said.
Manger said that over the past two years, the Capitol Police has been working with the support of Congress to implement more than 100 significant improvements, some of which exceed recommendations made in the wake of the event.
He said his force is “clearly better off” than it was two years ago.
Manger said that the Capitol Police force will exceed both its pre-pandemic and pre-Jan. 6 staffing levels in a few months, and the force has hired a new intelligence director and leaders from “premier” law enforcement agencies who have experience in national security special events.
“Make no mistake, there is still work to be done,” Manger said. “The current threat climate, particularly against elected officials, will require continued and heightened vigilance. We will do everything possible to fulfill our mission of protecting the Members of Congress, the Capitol Complex, and the legislative process.”
Manger said that the force now has specialized training and upgraded equipment to be better prepared for future attacks.
“With the polarized state of our nation, an attack like the one our Department endured on January 6, 2021, could be attempted again,” Manger said. “Should the unthinkable happen, we will be ready.”
More than 100 police officers were injured during the deadly insurrection on the Capitol. One Capitol Police officer who was present died the day after the attack. Two other officers died by suicide in the days after the attack.
Ex-Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund was the chief at the time of Jan. 6, resigning the day after the riot. He warned in his new book that the department is “not in a better place or on a readier footing” two years after the insurrection.
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