• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Subscribe to the Magazine
American Police Beat

American Police Beat Magazine

Law Enforcement Publication

  • Home
  • Editor’s Picks
    • Seeking the right kind of help
      “Why does that call keep haunting me?”
      Mentoring: Leave ’em better than you found ’em
      A message to those considering suicide
      The power of teamwork
  • Topics
    • On the Job
      • California deputies rescue teen dangling 700 feet in the air after...
        Washington deputy rescues injured dog from drainpipe
        “Wow, our career together is over”: Missouri police department...
        Heroic Pennsylvania officer saves father and daughter from drowning...
        Denver law enforcement struggle to divert low-level offenders to...
    • Labor
      • San Francisco “workhorse” deputy earns millions in overtime pay...
        “A financial tsunami”
        LAPD officers receive raises, bonuses
        Minnesota police force faces disbandment as chief resigns amid salary...
        We quit!
    • Tech
      • The rise of I2P
        Ann Arbor Police Department adopts AI technology to analyze body...
        Ohio law enforcement adopts powerful ballistics technology to combat...
        AI-powered surveillance program raises concerns over privacy rights...
        Chesterfield County announces real-time crime center to enhance...
    • Training
      • Investigating “swatting” incidents
        Leaders take note: A handwritten note goes a long way
        CIT training is not for everyone
        Mentoring: Leave ’em better than you found ’em
        Ohio struggles to secure permanent funding for law enforcement...
    • Policy
      • Texas enacts stricter laws to combat illegal street racing and...
        New Mexico Supreme Court clarifies police authority to question...
        New Texas law gives local law enforcement greater control over...
        Diversity in law enforcement
        Florida attorney general and John Walsh partner in new Crime Stoppers...
    • Health/Wellness
      • The emotional rucksack
        What threat does to the brain
        Seeking the right kind of help
        Working through grief
        Responding to trauma
    • Community
      • Florida police department launches SPORTS initiative to build...
        Naperville police officer inspires generations of kids through reading
        Stockton P.D. launches Your Way Registry Program to protect...
        Committing to outreach
        Scam callers pose as law enforcement to trick victims into paying for...
    • Offbeat
      • “It’s time to dive in”: Shaquille O’Neal joins forces with...
        “This little piggy didn’t make it to the market”:
        Seattle police find burglary suspect guzzling gasoline in victim’s...
        Univision Chicago TV crew reporting on armed robberies held at...
        California Highway Patrol arrests man on horseback for DUI
    • We Remember
      • Headstone finally marks grave of Pennsylvania officer who gave his...
        Memorial for the fallen: The sacrifice continues
        Paying Tribute to the Fallen Heroes of 9/11
        “He was like a protector …”: Genesee County sheriff’s deputy...
        Deadly police pursuit claims life of 19-year-old Vermont police...
  • On the Job
    • California deputies rescue teen dangling 700 feet in the air after...
      Washington deputy rescues injured dog from drainpipe
      “Wow, our career together is over”: Missouri police department...
      Heroic Pennsylvania officer saves father and daughter from drowning...
      Denver law enforcement struggle to divert low-level offenders to...
  • Labor
    • San Francisco “workhorse” deputy earns millions in overtime pay...
      “A financial tsunami”
      LAPD officers receive raises, bonuses
      Minnesota police force faces disbandment as chief resigns amid salary...
      We quit!
  • Tech
    • The rise of I2P
      Ann Arbor Police Department adopts AI technology to analyze body...
      Ohio law enforcement adopts powerful ballistics technology to combat...
      AI-powered surveillance program raises concerns over privacy rights...
      Chesterfield County announces real-time crime center to enhance...
  • Training
    • Investigating “swatting” incidents
      Leaders take note: A handwritten note goes a long way
      CIT training is not for everyone
      Mentoring: Leave ’em better than you found ’em
      Ohio struggles to secure permanent funding for law enforcement...
  • Policy
    • Texas enacts stricter laws to combat illegal street racing and...
      New Mexico Supreme Court clarifies police authority to question...
      New Texas law gives local law enforcement greater control over...
      Diversity in law enforcement
      Florida attorney general and John Walsh partner in new Crime Stoppers...
  • Health/Wellness
    • The emotional rucksack
      What threat does to the brain
      Seeking the right kind of help
      Working through grief
      Responding to trauma
  • Community
    • Florida police department launches SPORTS initiative to build...
      Naperville police officer inspires generations of kids through reading
      Stockton P.D. launches Your Way Registry Program to protect...
      Committing to outreach
      Scam callers pose as law enforcement to trick victims into paying for...
  • Offbeat
    • “It’s time to dive in”: Shaquille O’Neal joins forces with...
      “This little piggy didn’t make it to the market”:
      Seattle police find burglary suspect guzzling gasoline in victim’s...
      Univision Chicago TV crew reporting on armed robberies held at...
      California Highway Patrol arrests man on horseback for DUI
  • We Remember
    • Headstone finally marks grave of Pennsylvania officer who gave his...
      Memorial for the fallen: The sacrifice continues
      Paying Tribute to the Fallen Heroes of 9/11
      “He was like a protector …”: Genesee County sheriff’s deputy...
      Deadly police pursuit claims life of 19-year-old Vermont police...
  • Between the Lines
    • Debunking the perpetual narrative of racial bias in policing
      The unspoken truth behind the recruitment and retention crisis
      The police reform goal: use of force without options
      The imprisonment of law enforcement technology
      Persecution of the LEO is classic schadenfreude
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Search

Policy

Officers charged for participating in Capitol riot spark concern about extremism in law enforcement

APB Team Published April 2, 2021 @ 6:00 am PDT

Shay Horse/NURPHO via AP

Investigations into the January 6 Capitol riots have led to the nationwide arrests of participants, a significant number of whom are in the law enforcement and military community.

According to a report in USA Today, 43 out of the 324 arrests were of first responders or military veterans. At least four police officers and three former officers face federal charges.

The officers (two of whom were fired, one resigned, and another was suspended without pay) have each pleaded not-guilty and have yet to be arraigned.

The presence of law enforcement officers in the riot has alarmed lawmakers and officials, reigniting concerns about extremists infiltrating law enforcement ranks.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) told USA Today, “A street alliance among right-wing paramilitary forces, law enforcement and demagogic politicians has been a hallmark of fascism for a century, so the involvement of multiple law enforcement officers from across the country in waging the Jan. 6th insurrection against the Capitol and the Congress is a warning sign of danger for our democracy. Off-duty cops beating up on-duty cops to overthrow an election is a nightmare scenario for America.”

Of those arrested in the riots, 16 were found to be linked to the Proud Boys alt-right group, 13 to the QAnon conspiracy movement and 12 to the Oath Keepers, a far-right anti-government paramilitary group that recruits former military and law enforcement members.

USA Today said that concern over extremist infiltration of law enforcement agencies has been around for years, citing a 2006 FBI report warning that white supremacists in law enforcement agencies could gain access to restricted places and sabotage elected officials or protected persons who they could see as “potential targets for violence.”

Raskin, who has investigated the infiltration of white supremacists in law enforcement as chairman of a House Oversight and Reform subcommittee, said, “Their presence in law enforcement impedes official responses to right-wing terrorism, places loyal officers in peril and exposes vulnerable communities to lawless violence by white supremacists dressed in blue.”

FBI Director Christopher Wray told the Senate Judiciary Committee that “the Capitol attack involved violent extremists” and that the FBI considered it “a form of domestic terrorism.”

Over the past three years, Wray has seen domestic terrorism cases double. He also alluded to the presence of sworn law enforcement officials in the riots.

“As we’re continuing to investigate the Jan. 6th attack, there have been some instances of current or particular former military or law enforcement who participated. We want to pursue those cases just as aggressively as we would anybody else,” Wray said.

Individuals who stormed the capitol were charged and arrested based on social media posts or photos and video taken that day. Among the law enforcement officers arrested are officers Thomas Robertson and Jacob Fracker from Rocky Mount, Virginia, 18-year veteran officer Tam Pham out of Houston, Joseph Fischer of North Cornwall Township, Pennsylvania, retired officer Thomas Webster from Queens, New York, and former SWAT team member and K-9 officer Laura Young Steele of North Carolina, who joined the Oath Keepers.

Investigations are ongoing in agencies across the country, looking at whether officers were in Washington that day or attended the protests.

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority is investigating seven off-duty officers who attended the protests, and two sergeants were suspended without pay for social media posts that could be considered as supporting the rioters.

Seattle P.D. is also investigating six officers – two of whom were placed on administration leave for being in D.C. that day. Police Chief Adrian Diaz said officers would be fired if they were involved.

“We cannot violate the same laws we are sworn to protect,” he said. “We cannot allow violent or intimidating direct action to become acceptable in our society.”

Categories: Policy

Primary Sidebar

Recent Articles

  • California deputies rescue teen dangling 700 feet in the air after botched stunt on state’s highest bridge
  • Washington deputy rescues injured dog from drainpipe
  • “It’s time to dive in”: Shaquille O’Neal joins forces with Los Angeles Port Police Department in recruitment drive
  • “This little piggy didn’t make it to the market”:
  • Florida police department launches SPORTS initiative to build positive community relationships
  • Seattle police find burglary suspect guzzling gasoline in victim’s garage
  • The emotional rucksack
  • Naperville police officer inspires generations of kids through reading
  • “Wow, our career together is over”: Missouri police department bids farewell to retiring K-9 Tank
  • Investigating “swatting” incidents

Footer

Our Mission
To serve as a trusted voice of the nation’s law enforcement community, providing informative, entertaining and inspiring content on interesting and engaging topics affecting peace officers today.

Contact us: info@apbweb.com | (800) 234-0056.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Categories

  • Editor’s Picks
  • On the Job
  • Labor
  • Tech
  • Training
  • Policy
  • Health/Wellness
  • Community
  • Offbeat
  • We Remember
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Events

Editor’s Picks

Seeking the right kind of help

Seeking the right kind of help

September 26, 2023

“Why does that call keep haunting me?”

“Why does that call keep haunting me?”

September 20, 2023

Mentoring: Leave ’em better than you found ’em

Mentoring: Leave ’em better than you found ’em

September 19, 2023

A message to those considering suicide

A message to those considering suicide

September 18, 2023

Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Options | Notice at Collection | Copyright © 2023 APB Media, LLC | Website design, development and maintenance by 911MEDIA

Open

Subscribe

Close

Receive the latest news and updates from American Police Beat directly to your inbox!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.