Fortress on a Hill

The chief of the U.S. Capitol Police wants to expand the force's arrest authority to all of Washington. Currently, Capitol Police have jurisdiction over the few blocks that make up the Capitol grounds.

Chief Terrance W. Gainer said the Capitol Police need the new powers to do their jobs -- along with some additional funding. But Rep. James P. Moran (D-Va.) told The Washington Post that Gainer is "trying to create his own army on Capitol Hill."

Comments

[Scott]

I work 2 blocks from the White House and this is what I have to say about that article: Capitol Police are huge jerks that take pleasure in blocking off streets to pedestrians and breaking tourists balls. What strikes me as funny about that article is, what kind of stupid criminal would be carjacking or mugging someone within sight of any kinda cop?

By the way, crime is increasing rapidly in DC and asking for more funding for the Capitol police is just plain stupid. If anything MPD needs more cops in the hood. The popular saying in DC is, If you want to get away with murder, do it in DC, because the 5-0 are understaffed and undertrained.

Legalize it!

[joe]

I used to be a Congressional placeholder. Lobbyists paid our employer by the hour to have a body stand in line to get into the audience for committee hearings. Great job for a college student. $10/hour, 7-10AM Monday through Thursday, hop on the Metro, back on campus for a 10:30 class.

The Capitol Police in the Rayburn building decided they didn't like placeholders, and took it upon themselves to harrass and intimidate us every chance they got. One day, they rolled a big trash barrel down the hall, and made everyone throw out their coffees and bagels. (Note to law enforcement officials - this is the type of behavior that makes people call you pigs.) In case you're curious, a full cup of coffee without a lid, dropped four feet into a trash barrel, at the proper angle, will splash a police officer with hot coffee.

BTW, they also have their own jail.

[Phil]

The idea that Capitol Police need arrest powers in Loudon or Frederick Counties, which are not even *close* to being contiguous with the District (let alone the Capitol environs), is absolutely ludicrous.

[Gary Gunnels]

The Capitol Building (having worked there) is like a town; it has its own bank, post-office, cops, subway, etc. The capitol police serve that town; they don't need to be serving the environs outside of it. BTW, I agree w/joe; the capitol police are assholes (I think they have an inferiority complex).

[Gary Gunnels]

BTW, if you think the capitol police are bad, wait until you meet the librarians at the Library of Congress. 🙂

[Russ]

Terry Gainer was a Chicago cop in 1968. Just advancing his gestapo career in DC now.

[Jerry]

It amazes me that you are the only assholes that read this with a negative comment. None of you made any good points and for dropping coffee into the garbage pail you as well would get wet with hot coffee. Face the fact the capitol police will get there juristication and one day you will need them for help. As for DC Police thats local governments problem. Other cities in the US faced the same problem and they got themselves out it, so when you vote for elected official vote for the right cause.

[Lynwood]

I just read the comments left on this thread and I am appauled. I plan to apply to join the US Capitol Police soon and I hate to believe that there are people out there that sterotype 1500 people and call them all assholes. I live in one of the Maryland counties Chief Gainer wants to expand thier jurisdiction to. I am shocked to say the least that a federal officer cannot act as an officer if he witnesses a crime, anywhere in the US. That's scary. Bad luck forbid that you are a victim of a crime and a US Capitol police officer is standing there beside his take home cruiser, with badge and gun and has to say "I can call the police for you." That's scary.

[Mike]

I am somewhat surprised there are so many ignorant individuals out there. I love how so many people make so many comments who have no idea what they're talking about. Uh, linestander or placeholder guy, whatever it is you call yourself these days I think it's important for you to remember that the Capitol Police officers you come into contact with don't make the rules as to how you're treated, they're given those orders by their officials and I think they have better things to do than say he ya know I think we should harass those linestanders. USE YOUR BRAIN PEOPLE, PLEASE. All of the people who made these comments would be the first ones running to a Capitol Police officer in the midst of a crisis saying oh please help me!! The Capitol Police can't make everyone happy all the time, what police force can?? They do the best they can with the orders given to them.

[Tom]

The Congress are the ones that make the rules up there not the Capitol Police. The Capitol Police are just the peons following their wishes. I am sure there are people out there that may not like the job you are doing either because of your attitude or because of company policy. So why judge the whole Capitol Police force because of one person or Congresses ever changing rules.

[Chris]

As a person who works on capitol hill. I would like to say that everyone of those people who posted who called the capitol police assholes. You might want to remember you may NEED one of the assholes to save your life one day. Let us also not forget July 24, 1998 when two of those "assholes" lost their LIVES protecting us.

[Mitra Kanchan]

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[Tritter Michael]

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