Former Capitol Police Chief Steve Sund told lawmakers Tuesday that future police chiefs must have the authority to request the National Guard when there is a threat to the U.S. Capitol.
"I think in exigent circumstances that there needs to be a streamlined process for the Capitol Police chief, for Capitol Police, to have authority," Mr. Sund said in testimony about the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Mr. Sund, one of four witnesses who testified before two Senate committees about the attack, said he cannot request the National Guard without a declaration of emergency from the Capitol Police Board.
TOP STORIES Congressional Democrats bully cable providers to drop Fox, Newsmax, OANN Biden Interior pick Haaland backs down on 'Republicans don't believe in science' tweet at hearing EXCLUSIVE: Murdoch son funds Dem-allied fake news while slamming conservative media 'disinformation' Under the current chain of command, the police chief must ask the Capitol Police Board to invoke an emergency declaration emergency and then approve a formal request for the National Guard.
The acting head of Washington's Metropolitan Police Department, Robert J. Contee III, told lawmakers that he was "Surprised" and "Stunned" that there was a "Reluctance" to deploy the National Guard during the riot.
Roughly an hour passed before the Pentagon approved the request for more guard troops to disperse the violent mob that stormed the Capitol.
"Your testimony makes clear that the current structure of the Capitol Police Board resulted in delays in bringing in assistance from the National Guard," Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Democrat, told Mr. Sund..
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/23/capitol-police-need-authority-call-national-guard-/
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