Board to begin permanent chief search
WASHINGTON — The board that oversees the U.S. Capitol Police is beginning a search for a permanent police chief, a person familiar with the matter said, as the fallout from the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol continues.
Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman has faced scrutiny from Capitol Hill leaders and congressional committees over law enforcement failures that allowed thousands of rioters to overtake police officers during the insurrection.
The search for the permanent leader of the force, which has more than 2,300 sworn officers and civilian employees, will be nationwide, and while Pittman can apply for the position, she is not guaranteed it, according to the person, who had direct knowledge of the search. This person was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The department’s eventual permanent leader will face calls to improve the force’s intelligence gathering and sharing and its ability to respond to threats like the insurrection. In a draft report obtained by The Associated Press, a task force charged with reviewing Jan. 6 says the Capitol Police already has the ability to “track, assess, plan against or respond” to threats from domestic extremists who continue to potentially target the building. The report recommends a major security overhaul, including the funding of hundreds of new officer positions
Yogananda Pittman is acting chief of U.S. Capitol Police. A search is beginning for a permanent chief. and establishing a permanent “quick response force” for emergencies.
Some of the proposed security enhancements are already common in most major police departments, such as establishing a mounted unit of officers and distributing body cameras.
The task force also addressed the hourslong delay of National Guard support on Jan. 6 as outnumbered officers were overrun by rioters. The draft report faults the three-member Capitol Police Board for its slow decision-making and suggests giving the Capitol Police chief authority to circumvent the board in emergencies and directly request help from the Guard. The task force also called on the Defense Department to give the D.C. National Guard commander authority to send troops in emergencies without the Pentagon’s permission.
The report was obtained by the AP in advance of closed-door briefings for lawmakers expected today.
The Capitol Police and other law enforcement agencies are trying to determine the best way to secure the Capitol over the long term.