Excerpted from The Washington Post. Tumalo Lookout comments follow the story.

Police union says 140 officers injured in Capitol riot.

Jan. 27, 2021 at 4:47 p.m. PST

The physical toll on officers who defended the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 attack by a pro-Trump mob is becoming clearer, with reports by police officials and federal prosecutors indicating that about 140 officers were injured, the head of the Capitol Police officers’ union said.

“I have officers who were not issued helmets prior to the attack who have sustained head injuries,” Gus Papathanasiou, union chairman, said in a statement Wednesday. “One officer has two cracked ribs and two smashed spinal discs and another was stabbed with a metal fence stake, to name some of the injuries.”

Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick died after trying to defend the Capitol from rioters. One Capitol Police officer and one D.C. police officer who were responding on the scene have died by suicide since the attack.

And since Jan. 6, 38 Capitol Police employees have tested positive for the coronavirus, almost entirely officers and supervisors who responded to the riot, Papathanasiou said.

At least 81 Capitol Police officers were assaulted during the siege of the Capitol, according to filings by federal prosecutors. The filings did not detail injuries sustained by officers, and a Capitol Police spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment on officer injuries.

About 65 D.C. police officers also suffered injuries on Jan. 6, including several concussions from head blows from various objects, including metal poles ripped from inauguration-related scaffolding and even a pole with an American flag attached, D.C. police officials have said. Other injuries included swollen ankles and wrists, bruised arms and legs, and irritated lungs from bear and pepper spray….

Papathanasiou said it was “unconscionable” that Capitol Police had a warning about the “strong potential for violence,” including the possible use of firearms, on Jan. 6 — as acknowledged by acting department chief Yogananda Pittman — and did not better prepare the force. “The fact they did not relay this information to the officers on duty prior to the insurrection is inexcusable,” he said.
“The officers are angry, and I don’t blame them. The entire executive team failed us, and they must be held accountable,” he said. “Their inaction cost one officer his life, and we have almost 140 responding officers injured. They have a lot to atone for.”
The Washington Post, January 27, 2021

From The Tumalo Lookout

I’m sure as hell outraged by that WAPO headline. As well as the details of the report.

And I agree with Gus Papathanasiou, union chairman for the US Capitol Police: the failures of their senior executives are both unconscionable and inexcusable.

But here are a few other unconscionable and inexcusable points for cop union members:

Some of the people in that insurrection were off-duty cops, from all around the nation.

Some of the participants were on-duty cops, from the USCP.

All of the injuries were perpetrated by Trump supporters, like you.

Nearly every single congressional GOP member condoned, supported, and mimicked Trump’s incendiary rhetoric for the past four years.

They fought against Trump’s first impeachment. They acquitted him. And they decided to let him off before they ever heard the case against him.

And now they have voted against his second impeachment; voted against holding a trial for his sedition and insurrection; and have already decided to acquit him in his second trial — once again, before they’ve even heard the case against him.

The entire GOP has aided and abetted Trump’s sedition.

That‘s your criminal justice system.

Those are your elected officials, answering to your demands.

Because most of America’s cop unions, benevolent associations, chiefs associations and sheriffs associations fervently support Trump.

Your profession betrayed America by supporting Trump.

And in return, your whole profession was betrayed by Trump.

Cop culture is deeply, deeply fucked.

So let’s be clear:

Not a single one of the officers injured in Trump’s insurrection deserved their injuries — most especially not Officers Brian Sicknick, Howard Liebengood, and Jeffery Smith.

But, collectively, your profession asked for it, and your own Fuhrer gave it to you.

And it’s not like you weren’t warned. Repeatedly.

And not only in the weeks from Biden’s lawful and legitimate election to Trump’s insurrection.

But for four years prior.

You just don’t listen.

And it cost three officers their lives.