Colbert I King Op Ed
Colbert I. King said it best:“THANK YOU, MPD.”. Read an excerpt from the Colbert I King Op Ed below.
The columnist and deputy editor of The Washington Post’s editorial page, wrote in his February 6 column:
“To borrow from the insurance company’s TV commercial, ‘Like a good neighbor, D.C. is there.’ Those words should be emblazoned on the walls of Congress. Because on Jan. 6, when the U.S. Capitol was invaded by a Pro-Trump rampaging mob, it was the District’s Metropolitan Police that rode to the rescue.”
Our Response
On this, we couldn’t agree more. When the request came to the MPD on January 6, officers did more than just show up. Despite being disrespected, crushed in doorways, sprayed with bear mace, tasered and struck with metal pipes, they did their job and did it well.
It’s not a surprise. They’ve been protecting the seat of our democracy admirably and bravely since 1861. In fact, prior to 1979, the role of U.S. Capitol Police Chief had been held by MPD police captains and assistant chiefs in an ex-officio capacity and the U.S. Capitol Police were augmented by DC police officers on detail. In 1962 while detailed to the U.S. Capitol Police, MPD Detective Sergeant James Roche suffered a fatal heart attack as he and other officers attempted to control a crazed man who had entered the Capitol building without permission. The only mention of this by Congress came from Sen. Kenneth B. Keating (R-N.Y.) who paid tribute in the Senate to the “outstanding courage and dedication” of Roche.
Detective Sergeant Roche is but one of 120 MPD officers who have died in the line of duty, making the ultimate sacrifice and leaving families without sones and daughters, without husbands and wives, without sisters and brothers and children without parents.
Memorial to honor MPD Officers
The Memorial to honor MPD officers killed in the line of duty is a dilapidated fountain in dire need of repairs. The Fountain sits in front of MPD headquarters at 300 Indiana Avenue, NW. Congress authorized the Fountain in 1940 under HR 8792, and the community at large funded it, but the Fountain is now dilapidated and shameful.
A committed effort is underway to renovate this Fountain and build a new and iconic Memorial Wall in a park setting to appropriately honor the MPD officers who have died in the line of duty by listing each of their names.
No government funds are involved, it is being done by private donations. In addition to the Memorial, we will also create a museum to preserve the rich and unique history of the MPD.
We are so grateful that businessman and philanthropist Don Graham (a former MPD officer) has committed significant financial support to help build the Memorial. All we have to do is OUR part. This effort involves the entire city.
Learn more about the Memorial at dcpolicememorial.org and our Facebook page at
facebook.com/DCPoliceMemorial.
Don Blake,
Founder and President
Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Memorial and Museum
(Retired MPD Lieutenant)
