Death of US Capitol Police officer by suicide qualifies for line of duty benefits DOJ rules

The Justice Division has decided that the dying of a US Capitol Police officer by suicide within the days following the January 6, 2021, assault on the US Capitol occurred within the line of obligation and qualifies for line-of-duty dying advantages, the officer’s household mentioned in an announcement Monday.

Capitol Police Officer Howard Liebengood died by suicide on January 9, 2021. His widow, Serena Liebengood, had been calling for US Capitol Police to declare her husband’s dying within the line of obligation, within the days and months following the assault in order that she might proceed to obtain well being and monetary advantages.

“We have been just lately notified that the Division of Justice formally decided our beloved member of the family U.S. Capitol Police Officer (USCP) Howie Liebengood’s passing was within the line of obligation beneath the Public Security Officers’ Advantages (PSOB) program. The dedication is important, therapeutic, relieving, and we’re grateful for it,” his household mentioned in an announcement.

Liebengood’s widow recounted in an open letter how he was ordered to stay on obligation “virtually across the clock” for 3 days after the Capitol assault, and the way he was “severely sleep disadvantaged” earlier than his January 9 suicide.

“After helping riot management on the Capitol on January sixth, USCP scheduled Howie to work prolonged shifts within the quick days following. He was residence for only a few hours over the course of 4 days,” she wrote. “Though he was severely sleep-deprived, he remained on duty- as he was directed- virtually across the clock from January sixth by way of the ninth. On the night of the ninth, he took his life at our residence.”

Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s workplace had urged the Justice Division to approve line of obligation advantages in Liebengood’s case. A Pelosi spokesman mentioned the problems raised by Officer Liebengood’s widow have been “well-founded.” If they didn’t, she mentioned, Congress would search for methods to vary the legislation.

Along with Liebengood, Metropolitan Police Division Officer Jeffrey Smith died by suicide within the days after the revolt. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick additionally misplaced his life at some point after responding to the revolt. Officers say as many as 140 officers sustained accidents on January 6.