Veteran Capitol cop allegedly took his life days following the D.C. riot

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Only days after the pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol, a seasoned USCP officer allegedly committed suicide.
• The officer, Howard Liebengood, was reportedly off-duty when he passed away on Saturday, with still undetermined circumstances surrounding his death.
• Liebengood was amongst the USCP officers who responded to the riot at the Capitol on Wednesday, which also killed another law enforcer of the department.

Sources and officials said on Sunday that a veteran US Capitol Police officer has passed away by suicide, days following the department’s response to the unrest that led to the death of five individuals,  including another member of the agency.

The United States Capitol Police (USCP) department confirmed through a statement that the 51-year old officer,  Howard Liebengood, 51, died while off-duty on Saturday.

The official statement wrote that Liebengood was deployed to the Senate Division, and has been serving the police force since April 2005, adding that the department’s sympathy and prayers are for his colleagues, friends, and his family. The department is also asking the public to respect the privacy of the deceased officer’s and other USCP official’s family at this time.

While the department did not divulge the conditions surrounding Liebengood’s demise, some sources described it as a suicide.

Details of what made Liebengood commit suicide is still unclear. His late dad once worked for the Senate as sergeant-at-arms.

The labor union chairman of the department, Gus Papathanasiou, said that Liebengood was one of the officers who were deployed at the riot last week.

In his statement to several media groups, Papathanasiou said they are devastated by the death of Liebengood, noting that every Capitol police considers first the safety of the public over theirs and the deceased officer was an embodiment of selfless service which is USCP’s hallmark.

Liebengood’s demise came as the division was still grieving Officer Brian Sicknick, who was severely clubbed with a fire extinguisher and sprayed with pepper when followers of President Trump attacked the US Capitol on Wednesday in an unsuccessful effort to stop the endorsement of Joe Biden’s November 2020 election win.

The USCP department itself is under hot water for its tolerance when the rioters overwhelmed Capitol Police and stormed their way into the center of American democracy and constitution.

USCP Chief Steven Sund has formally tendered his resignation from the force effective 16th of this month.

Source: New York Post