Why are so many US Capitol police officers committing suicide?
A Washington, DC police officer who responded to the deadly riot at the US Capitol on Jan. 6 took his own life last month, making him the fourth law enforcement officer who took part in the events of that day to die by his own hand.
Officer Kyle DeFreytag helped enforce the curfew put in place after hundreds of supporters of then-President Donald Trump breached the Capitol building in an effort to disrupt the certification of the 2020 election results, The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) told WUSA.
DeFreytag died on July 10. He was described as a Pennsylvania native and a five-year veteran of the DC force.
The officer’s obituary said that a memorial service was held in the nation’s capital over the weekend. His family has not said his death was caused by the riot.
Three days after the riot, another Capitol Police officer, Howard Liebengood, committed suicide. Metropolitan Police Officer Jeffrey Smith fatally shot himself on Jan. 15, one day after he was ordered back to work.