WASHINGTON – U.S. Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger testified Wednesday that more than 700 threats have been made against members of Congress in the last month alone, with at least 50 cases involving people making false 911 calls to alert police teams to respond to the demands of the legislators. Houses, often called “swatting.”

Manger, who took over as police chief after the Jan. 6 attack, said the agency has done a relatively good job of improving security at the Capitol in recent years but needs more officers and money to address security the legislator must take care if these are available at home or at external events.

Manger pointed out that the dignitary protection division, which is responsible for the security of congressional leadership wherever they go, is “significantly understaffed.”

“We offer the level of protection it needs to be. But this is done by officers working double shifts and averaging … 50 hours of overtime per pay period,” Manger said.

The department that protects leadership currently employs about 250 officers, but Manger pushed to double that number to at least 500.

“And not only can we provide 24/7 protection to the leadership, but we can do that when we have people who have threats that require us to release preliminary details,” Manger said. “Because right now when we do it, we are robbing Peter to pay Paul. We pull someone from another unit to set up a unit and assist someone in a temporary threat situation.”

There are numerous situations, he testified, in which the USCP could better protect lawmakers both on and off Capitol Hill if it had more officers. For example, the USCP needs more than the roughly 20 agents it currently has to investigate threats against members of Congress.

Woman killed in Georgia

Threats against lawmakers have been on the rise for years, but their consequences have become increasingly dire. Just this week in Georgia, a woman was killed in what local police described as a “tragic chain of events” after an email falsely claimed there was something in the mailbox of the Republican House there Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said there was a bomb.

Manger said during the Senate Rules Committee hearing that lawmakers need to increase USCP spending so it can continue to hold 12 recruiting courses per year with 25 officers each for the next few years.

The mandatory retirement age for the USCP should also be raised from 60 to 65 to comply with the Secret Service’s “optimization” of allowing senior federal law enforcement officers to continue working above the 57 age limit. which Manger described as “shameful.” because he believes it is too low.

“We have people who are at the peak of their careers at this age and have to leave. And so I was able to get the Capitol Police Department to agree to an extension to age 60. And I’ve spoken to several officers who are reaching age 60 just in the last month. and they said, ‘Boss, I don’t want to go,'” Manger said. “And when you look at them, they look like they’re 35, and they can definitely still do their job, physically and mentally, and they’re some of the best cops you’d ever want to work with.” But I do have no ability to hold them.”

Last updated on December 11, 2024 at 5:55 p.m