ToplineOfficers who responded to the attack on January 6 on the U.S. Capitol by committing suicide more than doubled Monday, as the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that two additional officers had died.WASHINGTON DC - JANUARY 6, 2018: Trump supporters clashed with security forces and police as they tried to... [+] storm US Capitol on January 6, 2021 in Washington DC. As Congress was discussing the 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification, demonstrators broke into the Capitol. (photo by Brent Stirton/Getty Images). Getty ImagesThe Key FactsHugh Carew, a department spokesperson, said that Officer Kyle DeFreytag was killed in the riot response. He had been a D.C. officer for more than four years. According to a Bensing Thomas funeral home obituary, DeFreytag was 26 years old and originally from Pennsylvania. Sean Hickman (another department spokesperson) stated that DeFreytags suicide was the cause. WUSA9, a local TV station in D.C. first reported DeFreytags' death. It received a message last month from Robert Contee, the chief of D.C. Police, informing officers about DeFreytags' death. The confirmation of DeFreytags' death occurred just hours after the department confirmed that Officer Gunther Hashida, an 18 year veteran of the department, had died on July 29. He also responded to the riot.Important BackgroundWith the deaths of DeFreytag, Hashida, the number of officers who committed suicide in response to the riot has now reached four. Capitol Police Officer Howard Liebengood committed suicide just days after the attack. D.C. officer Jeffrey Smith died several weeks later. The D.C. medical inspector found that Brian Sicknick, Capitol Police Officer, died from strokes one day after the riot. He also noted that all that had occurred in the past few weeks played a part in his condition.Big Number138. According to the New York Times, that's how many Capitol Police officers and D.C. Metropolitan Police officers were hurt in the attack. This doesn't include the many others who may have post-traumatic stress disorder (or other mental health problems) as a result.TangentLast week, four law enforcement officers testified about their difficult, sometimes near-fatal, experiences in responding to the riot. The day is still a traumatizing experience for us every day, regardless of whether we have suffered emotional or physical injuries, Capitol Police sergeant Aquilino said to a committee looking into the attack.Important QuoteHe enjoyed hiking, camping, and riding his motorcycle. He also liked to travel and play the drums. He loved trying new ethnic foods and knew where the best places for food. Kyle was kind and had a great sense humor. He kept us laughing for 26 year, according to DeFreytags Obituary.
