US Capitol Police officer’s suicide after Jan. 6 riot is considered line of duty death

The suicide of a U.S. Capitol Police officer who responded to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots has been dominated as a loss of life within the line of responsibility. 

Howard Liebengood, 51, was a 15-year veteran of the federal police pressure when he died. He’s one in all 4 officers to take their lives after responding to the Capitol as rioters have been making an attempt to overturn President Biden’s 2020 election victory. 

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“Anybody who knew Howie knew he was kind-hearted and fiercely loyal,” learn a Liebengood household assertion launched by the Fraternal Order of Police. “All of us desperately miss his one-of-a-kind smile and his heat, light temperament, however we take some solace in understanding that Howie formally has obtained this well-deserved honor.”

Liebengood took his personal life a number of days after the occasions on the Capitol. His household had been preventing to have his loss of life thought-about to be within the line of responsibility in an effort to obtain loss of life advantages. 

The loss of life profit declare was awarded by the Public Security Officers’ Advantages (PSOB) program, the household mentioned.

Fox Information Digital has reached out to the USCP. 

“Whereas no amount of cash will carry Howie again to his household, their profitable declare is a vital step in acknowledging that legislation enforcement suicides are service-connected and needs to be seen for what they’re—line of responsibility deaths,” mentioned Patrick Yoes, nationwide president of the Fraternal Order of Police

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A number of individuals, together with one other U.S. Capitol Police officer, Brian Sicknick, died throughout or in reference to the siege. The Justice Division has charged a whole lot of individuals in reference to the riot up to now.