GAO, Stakeholders Call for Improved Training, Communication for Capitol Police
Bill O'Leary | AP
The attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, prompted questions regarding the U.S. Capitol Police's readiness to handle violent demonstrations. A report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) surveyed U.S. Capitol Police officers present at the attack and stakeholders, finding that many officers avoided using force or making arrests for fear of escalating violence or fear of punishment by top brass.
Regarding crowd control tactics, 134 officers felt prepared or somewhat prepared, while 153 others responded that they weren't prepared at all. The GAO report notes that Capitol Police training for violent protests primarily involves a small group of physically threatening individuals rather than a mob.
Respondents felt officers should have been provided with more guidance and intelligence ahead of time. Sixty-three percent of the 315 officers surveyed said leadership failed to provide sufficient instructions before and during the attack. According to one respondent, officers would have approached the group differently if the officers had been told anything other than “prepare for a long day.”
GAO has made the following recommendations to the Capitol Police, all of which were accepted:
Identify underlying causes for potential officer hesitancy to use force, and better understand officers' comprehension of the department's expectations and policies related to the use of force;
Policy, guidance, and training should be adapted in response to findings from actions taken to better understand officers' comprehension of the department's expectations and policies regarding the use of force;
Refresh crowd control training for all officers, including those not in the CDU, to prepare them for large-scale and potentially violent demonstrations;
Providing realistic training to officers; and,
Assess the underlying causes of employee concerns following the January 6 attack and formulate an action plan to address these concerns.
The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) agreed with the GAO’s recommendations, while calling on Congress to reassess the makeup of the U.S. Capitol Police Board to give the Capitol Police Chief a vote.
“GAO accurately addressed many critical issues facing the U.S. Capitol Police and the need for U.S. Capitol police to better train, prepare, and equip their officers as well as coordinate efforts with surrounding agencies,” stated Larry Cosme, FLEOA National President, “One important issue that was not addressed in the report is the makeup and management of the U.S. Capitol Police Board. The Capitol Police Chief does not have a vote on the board. Meanwhile, other political appointees do have a vote. Until this makeup is reformed, the politics of the Capitol may override good law enforcement policies.”
FLEOA encouraged Congress to reconsider the Board’s voting powers “to ensure politics does not inhibit public safety, or as we saw on January 6, undermine our democratic system.”
The report concluded that the events of January 6 raise serious questions about the U.S. Capitol Police's ability to respond effectively and efficiently to current threats. Despite the U.S. Capitol Police's progress to date, the department has yet to address concerns related to the work environment, personnel morale, and potential officer aversion to using force.
The Inspector General of the Department of Justice is conducting a separate probe into how the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other law enforcement agencies at the department prepared for the attack and responded.