Steven Sund

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Steven Sund
Steven Sund.jpg
Chief of the United States Capitol Police
In office
June 14, 2019 – January 16, 2021
Preceded byMatthew R. Verderosa
Succeeded byThomas Manger
Personal details
EducationJohns Hopkins University (BS, MS)
Naval Postgraduate School (MA)
OccupationPolice officer

Steven A. Sund is an American police officer who served as the tenth chief of the United States Capitol Police. Sund was chief during the storming of the U.S. Capitol. Following the attack, he announced his resignation.

Education[]

Sund received a B.S. and M.S. from Johns Hopkins University, and an M.A. in homeland security from the Naval Postgraduate School.[1] He is also a graduate of the FBI National Executive Institute (NEI).

D.C. Metropolitan police[]

Sund was a member of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia for more than 25 years.[1] He was “widely respected in the District and among leaders of U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Park Police” and other law enforcement agencies.[2]

During his career, Sund coordinated a number of National Special Security Events by the Department of Homeland Security, to include the 2001, 2005, 2009, and 2013 Presidential Inaugurations,"[3] Sund was "the on-scene incident commander on the 2009 shooting at the National Holocaust Museum, the 2012 shooting at the Family Research Council, and the 2013 active shooter incident at the Washington Navy Yard."[3] In addition, as Commander of the Special Operations Division he handled dozens of criminal barricades with a record of zero fatalities.

Sund authored many of the special events manuals for the District of Columbia and helped shape the Department of Homeland Security's National Response Framework. He also has instructed the U.S Secret Service "in the area of major events planning and has taught Incident Command System at the George Washington University as an adjunct professor."[4]

Sund retired from the D.C. Metropolitan police force as Commander (Deputy Chief) of the Special Operations Division.[1] Thereafter he worked in the private sector for a nonprofit.[1]

Capitol Police[]

In 2017, Sund joined the United States Capitol Police as the Assistant Chief of Police and Chief of Operations.[1] In June 2019, Sund was sworn in as the tenth Chief of the United States Capitol Police.[5]

Sund reports that on January 3, he contacted House Sergeant-at-Arms Paul D. Irving and Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Michael C. Stenger to request National Guard in advance of the January 6 joint-session of Congress. According to Sund, his request was denied by Irving who stated concerns about "optics".[6]

Responding to the 2021 Capitol attack[]

For broader coverage of this topic, see Law enforcement response to the 2021 United States Capitol attack.
2021 United States
Capitol attack
2021 storming of the United States Capitol 09 (cropped).jpg
Protesters gathered outside the Capitol on January 6, 2021
Timeline of events
Background
2020 presidential election
and other causes
Related groups and persons
Participants
List
Law enforcement response
Aftermath
Biden inauguration
Investigations and charges
Corporate actions
Reactions
Impeachment
  • v
  • t

Sund was chief when, on January 6, 2021, rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol building while Congress was counting the electoral votes of the 2020 presidential election.[7] Rioters were able to reach the chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives, marking the first time since 1814 that the Capitol building had been breached.[8][9] in which police were outnumbered over 58 to one.[10]

Five people died during the ensuing riot, including Brian Sicknick, a Capitol Police officer who died the following day from a Stroke.[11] Two additional police officers who were at the riots later committed suicide: US Capitol police officer Howard Charles Liebengood and Metropolitan police officer Jeffery Smith.

Capitol Police received major backlash after video emerged of what looked like some officers allowing rioters into the Capitol, and another officer filmed taking a selfie with rioters.[12][13][14][15]

Resignation[]

In the early morning hours of January 7, Sund issued a statement defending the department's response.[16][4]

That afternoon, during a televised press conference, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for Sund's resignation, citing "a failure of leadership at the top" of the department[17] and added that Sund had not contacted her since the event.[18][16] (An aide to Pelosi later clarified that Pelosi and Sund had spoken on the evening of January 6, but not after that time).[19]

That afternoon, Sund submitted a letter of resignation stating his intention to remain in the post until January 16.[20][21] The following day, January 8, Sund's command ended;[22] Yogananda Pittman was sworn in as acting US Capitol Police Chief, the first female and first African American to hold the post.[23]

Aftermath[]

On February 1, 2021, Sund sent a letter to speaker Pelosi detailing the events leading up to and including January 6. This was hailed as the first detailed account of that day.[24] Sund provided a timeline for the aid he sought from local law enforcement agencies and National Guard units, and an accounting of the meetings he had after the perimeter had been breached while he sought assistance.[25][6] Toward the end of the letter, Sund acknowledged a breakdown in some systems, "... all of which can be rectified with more resources, better training, updated policies, and accountability." He did not specify which systems failed but pointed to the lack of intelligence, noting officials didn't predict an "armed assault" on the Capitol.[6]

It took more than four hours for the requested National Guard troops to be sworn in at the Capitol. While National Guard assistance was being delayed by the Pentagon, Chief Sund was able to call in and coordinate more than 1,700 police officers from 18 jurisdictions to the Capitol to help clear the building of people and potentially hazardous materials.[25]

On February 23, Sund testified before Senate committees about the storming.[26][27] Sund later stated he regretted his resignation.[28]

On March 3, 2021, Major General William Walker, the commanding officer of the DC National Guard testified in a Senate hearing. His testimony supported Sund's account of events and confirmed that Sund did indeed call about National Guard assistance prior to January 6, but was denied by the Sergeant at Arms.[29] Walker testified that he spoke with Sund at 1:49 p.m. Walker said, "It was an urgent plea" from Sund, "and his voice was cracking, and he was serious, he needed help right then and there, every available Guardsman." Walker said he passed this along to Army leadership during the call shortly thereafter, "and during that call, Sund pleaded to have National Guard support at the Capitol immediately." Walker said that was "reinforced" by Contee and quoted him as saying, "We need them there right now. The Capitol will be breached."[30] Within minutes of the call, the Capitol was breached.

"What occurred on January 6th cannot be considered under any circumstances a protest, a rally, or civil disobedience," Sund wrote. "This was a well-planned, coordinated, armed insurrection at the United States Capitol. The USCP does not have the manpower, the training, or the capabilities to handle an armed insurrection involving thousands of individuals bent on violence and destruction at all costs."[6]

Sund maintained that the U.S. Capitol Police "did not fail". He credited the bravery and heroism of Capitol Police officers who "outnumbered and against tremendous odds" managed to keep members of Congress safe”.[21]

USCP Captain C. Mendoza stated at a televised Congressional hearing on February 23, 2021, "in closing, I want to honor Chief Sund and his leadership. I served under his command as a watch commander for three years and was able to personally see his hard work and dedication. He was fully dedicated to the United States Capitol Police and he cared about every employee on the department. I often hear employees on the department praise his leadership and his ability to inspire others. He's made a significant impact on our agency."[31]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Executive Team". United States Capitol Police. June 16, 2016. Archived from the original on March 31, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2020.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ Leonnig, Carol D.; Davis, Aaron C.; Hermann, Peter; Demirjian, Karoun. "Outgoing Capitol Police chief: House, Senate security officials hamstrung efforts to call in National Guard". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Steven A. Sund Appointed New Assistant Chief of Police". United States Capitol Police. January 5, 2017. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Norman, Greg (January 8, 2021). "Who is Steven Sund, the Capitol Police chief resigning after DC riots?". Fox News. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  5. ^ "Executive Team | United States Capitol Police". March 31, 2020. Archived from the original on March 31, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d "READ: Former Capitol Police chief's letter to Congress on delays and failures leading up to Capitol riot". CNN. Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  7. ^ "READ: Testimony from United States Capitol Police Captain Carneysha Mendoza". CNN. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  8. ^ Salo, Jackie (January 6, 2021). "US Capitol building invaded for first time since War of 1812". New York Post. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  9. ^ O’Gorek, Elizabeth. "Officers "Shook to Their Core" from Capitol Battle, Says MPD Commander | HillRag". Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  10. ^ Bennett, Dalton; Boburg, Shawn; Cahlan, Sarah; Hermann, Peter; Kelly, Meg; Lee, Joyce Sohyun; Samuels, Elyse; Monroe, Brian. "D.C. Police requested backup at least 17 times in 78 minutes during Capitol riot". Washington Post. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  11. ^ Clark, Dartunorro (January 7, 2020). "Capitol Police officer dies from injuries after clashing with pro-Trump mob". NBC News. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  12. ^ Leonnig, Carol D.; Davis, Aaron C.; Lamothe, Dan; Fahrenthold, David A. (January 6, 2021). "Capitol breach prompts urgent questions about security failures". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  13. ^ Gramenz, Jack (January 6, 2021). "Vision emerges of police moving barricades to allow rioters into US Capitol, taking selfies". News.com.au. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  14. ^ Elis, Niv (January 6, 2021). "Capitol Police face heat following mob breach". The Hill. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  15. ^ McSwane, Logan Jaffe,Lydia DePillis,Isaac Arnsdorf,J David (January 7, 2021). "Capitol Rioters Planned for Weeks in Plain Sight. The Police Weren't Ready". ProPublica. Archived from the original on January 9, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  16. ^ a b Graff, Garrett M. "Behind the Strategic Failure of the Capitol Police". POLITICO. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  17. ^ Fitz-Gibbon, Jorge (January 7, 2021). "Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund resigns in wake of turbulent DC protests". New York Post. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  18. ^ "Pelosi calls for resignation of Capitol Police chief". Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  19. ^ "Former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund Defends Agency's Role In Jan. 6 Attack". 88.5 WFDD. January 15, 2021. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  20. ^ "Latest Updates: Capitol Officer Dies From Injuries Sustained During Riot". NBC Los Angeles. Archived from the original on January 10, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  21. ^ a b Date, Jack (February 6, 2021). "Former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund says entire intelligence community missed signs of riot". ABC News. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  22. ^ https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/us-capitol-police-name-acting-chief-after-riot/2536419/
  23. ^ "Executive Team". United States Capitol Police. June 16, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  24. ^ Peter Nickeas (February 6, 2021). "Former US Capitol Police chief details delays in aid and intelligence failures during assault on Capitol". CNN. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  25. ^ a b Peter Nickeas. "Former US Capitol Police chief details delays in aid and intelligence failures during assault on Capitol". CNN. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  26. ^ "Ex-officials blame intelligence failure, red tape for botched response to Capitol attack". www.cbsnews.com.
  27. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2021.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  28. ^ Johnson, Kevin. "Ex-Capitol police chief: Pelosi's call for his resignation premature". USA TODAY. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  29. ^ "Capitol riot probe zeroes in on Pentagon delay in sending troops". POLITICO. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  30. ^ "Michael Flynn's brother warned about 'optics' of sending uniformed troop response to Capitol siege, DC Guard chief says". Washington Examiner. March 4, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  31. ^ "READ: Testimony from United States Capitol Police Captain Carneysha Mendoza". CNN. Retrieved April 15, 2021.

Further reading[]

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