Officer who responded to Capitol mob urges leaders to recognize ‘courage’ of law enforcement

A Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police officer is calling on elected officials to do more to recognize the actions of officers who responded to the Capitol riot on Jan. 6 while criticizing those “who continue to downplay the events of that day.”

Michael Fanone, who suffered a mild heart attack during the riot, wrote an open letter dated Wednesday and addressed it to “all elected members of the United States government.” In it, he described his experience on the day supporters of former President Trump stormed the Capitol. 

Fanone, who joined the D.C. police force after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, recounted how rioters pulled him away from other officers, after which he was “beaten with fists, metal objects, stripped of my issued badge, radio and ammunition magazine and electrocuted numerous times with a Taser.” 

He then commended the actions of officers like Commander Ramey Kyle, who he said remained “cool calm and collected giving commands to his officers,” calling it the “most inspirational moment of my entire life.” 

“I have never experienced such bravery, courage and selflessness,” Fanone said of the responding officers. 

Fanone took this photo showing Commander Ramey Kyle in the tunnel commanding officers to “Hold the line” as @DCPoliceDept fought back the violent crowd. Fanone writes “It was one of the most inspirational moments of my entire life. Even as I write this it brings me to tears.” pic.twitter.com/KTW8MH5XPH

— Eric Flack (@EricFlackTV) May 5, 2021

Fanone, who has been on leave from the force since the mob attack, said that in the weeks following Jan. 6, “the physical injuries gradually subsided” and “in crept the psychological trauma.” 

“In many ways I still live my life as if it is January 07, 2021,” Fanone wrote.

He went on to say that he struggles “daily with the emotional anxiety of having survived such a traumatic event but I also struggle with the anxiety of hearing those who continue to downplay the events of that day and those who would ignore them altogether with their lack of acknowledgement.”

“The indifference shown to my colleagues and I is disgraceful,” he added. 

“It has been 119 days since 850 Metropolitan Police (MPDC) officers responded to the Capitol and stopped a violent insurrection from taking over the Capitol Complex saving countless Members of Congress and their staff from almost certain injury and even death,” he continued. 

He ended the letter with, “The time to fully recognize these Officers actions is NOW!” 

The letter was first obtained by CBS News. Fanone told The Washington Post that he sent the letter to Congress, the mayor’s office and the D.C. Council. 

The newspaper reported that as the letter was sent, a message was circulated to officers saying they would be getting a mayoral commendation for valor for “restoring Democracy.” 

The letter from the narcotics detective, who arrived at the Capitol on Jan. 6 to help other officers respond to the violence, represents the latest criticism against Trump and his allies who have attempted to downplay the actions of the rioters, many of whom have told authorities they were acting on Trump’s behalf. 

Trump in comments submitted to Facebook’s Oversight Board defending his social media posts claimed that his supporters were “law-abiding” on the day of the insurrection, and in a March interview with Fox News’s Laura Ingraham said the rioters who stormed the Capitol posed “zero threat” and that some were “hugging and kissing the police and the guards.” 

In an interview last week with CNN’s Don Lemon, Fanone pushed back on the remarks, saying, “Some of the terminology that was used, like ‘hugs and kisses’ and ‘very fine people,’ is very different from what I experienced and what my co-workers experienced on the 6th.”