Officers who were attacked by the pro-Trump mob during the 2021 Capitol riot have expressed scepticism over President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard troops and federal agents to Washington DC to combat an “out of control” crime wave. Speaking to the Guardian, several former police officers criticised the intervention as both misguided and a potential sign of authoritarian overreach.
“Whenever he says he’s all for law and order, I have a bridge to sell you,” said Aquilino Gonell, a former Capitol Police officer who retired after sustaining injuries during the January 6 attack. Gonell noted that Trump never ordered the National Guard during the insurrection, despite the desperate need for reinforcements. “He did not think that overrunning the capital and attacking hundreds of police officers by his supporters would justify authorising the National Guard,” he added.
Trump’s announcement came after a staffer from the so-called department of government efficiency was attacked in an upscale neighbourhood. The president has ordered 800 National Guard troops and hundreds of officers from agencies including the FBI, DEA and Border Patrol into the capital. He has also taken control of the local police department and signalled his intention to seek congressional approval for a long-term takeover.
Former Metropolitan Police officer Michael Fanone, who was beaten and tased by rioters on January 6, questioned the effectiveness of the deployment. “There were other times during crime emergencies in which we mobilised the national guard, and they were worthless each and every time,” he said, adding that without arrest authority, guardsmen typically end up directing traffic. Fanone also warned that federal agencies like the FBI and DEA are investigative bodies, not equipped for street-level policing.
Harry Dunn, a former Capitol Police officer and unsuccessful congressional candidate, accused Trump of using the crime issue to flex his authority. “He’s continuing to turn the country into a police state, which is problematic,” Dunn said. The January 6 attack remains the largest single act of violence in Washington DC in recent history, yet Trump has pardoned all those convicted in connection with the riot and moved to clear out prosecutors involved in their cases.
