Eugene Goodman (police officer)

Last updated

Eugene Goodman
Eugene Goodman.jpg
Goodman in 2021
Deputy Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate
Acting
January 20, 2021 –March 2, 2021
2021 United States
Capitol attack
2021 storming of the United States Capitol 09 (cropped).jpg
Protesters gathered outside the Capitol on January 6, 2021
Timeline of events
Background
2020 presidential election
and other causes
Related groups and persons
Participants
List
Law enforcement response
Aftermath
Biden inauguration
Investigations and charges
Corporate actions
Reactions
Impeachment

Eugene Goodman (born 1980) is an American United States Capitol Police officer, who, during the 2021 United States Capitol attack, diverted the rioters from the United States Senate chamber. Goodman is a U.S. Army veteran who later served as the acting Deputy Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate from January 20, 2021, to March 2, 2021. [4] [2] On February 12, 2021, the Senate adopted a resolution awarding Goodman the Congressional Gold Medal. [5]

Contents

Early life

Goodman (right) with Senator Raphael Warnock Warnock and Goodman.jpg
Goodman (right) with Senator Raphael Warnock

Goodman was born in 1980 and raised in the southeast section of Washington, D.C. [3] He served from 2002 to 2006 in the United States Army, including in combat with the 101st Airborne Division in the Iraq War. [6] [7] As a sergeant deployed to Iraq in 2005, Goodman led a 10-man squad in the Sunni triangle area that conducted patrols and identified improvised explosive devices before detonation. He was described by members of his company as "calm, cool, and collected." [8] Goodman left the military in 2006 and joined the Capitol Police in 2009. [9]

Responding to the 2021 Capitol attack

On January 6, 2021, supporters of Donald Trump breached the United States Capitol building when Goodman, unaccompanied by other officers, confronted them. He has been cited for heroism in baiting and diverting the crowd away from the Senate chamber in the minutes before the chamber could be safely evacuated. As the crowd reached a landing from which there was an unimpeded path to the Senate chamber, Goodman pushed the lead person, Doug Jensen, and then retreated away from the chamber. [3] [10] [11] [12] One report described his actions as follows:

In short, he tricked them, willingly becoming the rabbit to their wolf pack, pulling them away from the chambers where armed officers were waiting, avoiding tragedy and saving lives. Lives which include their own. [13]

Those present at the time of the event, including Democratic and Republican politicians and members of the press, praised Goodman for his quick thinking and brave actions. [14] [15] [16] [17] Republican Senator Ben Sasse credited Goodman with having "single-handedly prevented untold bloodshed". [16] Goodman's former unit, the XVIII Airborne Corps, issued a statement commending his valor and saying that he "was a hero long before last Wednesday". [18]

Goodman's actions were captured in video footage taken by HuffPost reporter Igor Bobic. [19] Bobic's footage of Goodman went viral, receiving more than 10 million views. [20] [21] A second video of Goodman's confrontation with the crowd was published by ProPublica on January 15. [21] Goodman's actions have been credited with saving the lives of the Senators who, at the time, remained inside the chamber. [22]

A video released on February 10, 2021, during the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump, showed Goodman leading Senator Mitt Romney away from the rioters during the January 6 attack. [23]

Honors

Goodman throwing out the first pitch at the Washington Nationals game Capitol police officer tossing the first pitch at Nationals Park (cropped).jpg
Goodman throwing out the first pitch at the Washington Nationals game
Goodman receives the Joint Meritorious Civilian Service Award. From left: Senator Amy Klobuchar, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, Goodman, and Senator Roy Blunt. Eugene Goodman award.jpg
Goodman receives the Joint Meritorious Civilian Service Award. From left: Senator Amy Klobuchar, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, Goodman, and Senator Roy Blunt.

Following the attack, Jaime Harrison and others called for Goodman to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. [10] [24] A bipartisan resolution (H.Res.305) was introduced on January 13, 2021, by Representatives Charlie Crist (D-FL), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), and Nancy Mace (R-SC) to award the medal to Goodman. [25] [26] [27] Rep. Cleaver, the original co-sponsor of the bill, [25] wrote that "If not for the quick, decisive, and heroic actions from Officer Goodman, the tragedy of last week's insurrection could have multiplied in magnitude to levels never before seen in American history. With this prestigious award, we can show our gratitude to Officer Goodman for saving countless lives and defending our democracy." [28]

Goodman was also awarded the Distinguished Public Service Award by both the secretary and chief of staff of the Army. [29]

In addition, online petitions at Change.org and Care2 to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Goodman had received over 83,500 signatures as of January 21, 2021. [30] Following the event, Goodman said he was not looking for any accolades and expressed concern about potentially being targeted by extremists, but insisted that he would "do the same thing again". [3]

On January 20, 2021, Goodman escorted Kamala Harris to her inauguration as the Vice President of the United States. [31] He was announced as the acting deputy Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate; when stepping out onto the inauguration platform ahead of Harris, he received a standing ovation and cheers. [32]

On February 12, 2021, the U.S. Senate voted by unanimous consent to bestow the Congressional Gold Medal on Eugene Goodman. Goodman was present in the Senate chamber and received a standing ovation from the members. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

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Domestic reactions to the 2021 United States Capitol attack Reactions to the 2021 disruption of the U.S. presidential election certification

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Aftermath of the 2021 United States Capitol attack Aftermath of the violent disruption of the presidential election certification on January 6, 2021

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Criminal charges in the 2021 United States Capitol attack List of people charged with crimes

On January 6, 2021, supporters of President Donald Trump attempted to overturn his election loss to Joe Biden by storming the capitol during a riot and violent attack against the U.S. Congress, disrupting the joint session of Congress assembled to count electoral votes to formalize Joe Biden's victory. By the end of the month, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had opened more than 400 case files and issued more than 500 subpoenas and search warrants related to the riot. The FBI also created a website to solicit tips from the public specifically related to the riot and were especially assisted by the crowdsourced sleuthing of a group that calls themselves "Sedition Hunters." By the end of 2021, 725 people were charged with federal crimes.

Law enforcement response to the 2021 United States Capitol attack Police and military action

Law enforcement mounted a response to the 2021 United States Capitol attack, initially failing to maintain security perimeters and protect parts of the building from being breached and occupied, but succeeding to protect the members of Congress, and subsequently, as reinforcements arrived, to secure the breached Capitol.

Jeffrey L. Smith, a Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police officer, shot himself on January 15, 2021, after he assisted the United States Capitol Police on January 6, during the response to the storming of the Capitol. A medical examiner found that drastic changes in Smith's behavior after January 6 are evidence that the attack on the Capitol was the precipitating event leading to his suicide. Some have included him as a casualty of the Capitol attack. On October 13, 2021, two United States Senators and several members of the House of Representatives called for the Mayor to award Line of Duty benefits to Officer Smith and his widow Erin Smith.

Billy Evans (police officer) United States Capitol Police officer (1980-2021)

William Francis "Billy" Evans was a United States Capitol Police officer, who died as a result of injuries sustained during the April 2021 United States Capitol car attack carried out by Noah Green, a 25-year-old black nationalist who espoused extremist viewpoints advanced by the Nation of Islam.

Death of Howard Liebengood American police officer (d. 2021)

Howard Charles Liebengood, a United States Capitol Police officer, died by suicide on January 9, 2021, three days after he participated in the law enforcement response to the storming of the Capitol. He was the first of what were reported as two police suicides in the immediate aftermath of the attack, though Metropolitan Police (MPD) officer Jeffrey L. Smith's widow disputes the manner of death. In the months after the civil disturbance at the Capitol, it was generally reported that the deaths of five people who were present have, to a varying degree, been related to the event. Some members of Congress and press reports included these two in the number of fatalities, for a total of seven.

References

  1. 1 2 Cochrane, Emily (January 7, 2021). "Senate sergeant-at-arms resigns following House's top security official stepping down". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Majority Leader Schumer Announces New Senate Sergeant At Arms Leadership Team With Karen Gibson As SAA, Kelly Fado As Deputy SAA And Jennifer Hemingway As Chief Of Staff" (Press release). Senate Democratic Caucus. March 3, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Tan, Rebecca (January 14, 2021). "A Black officer faced down a mostly White mob at the Capitol: Meet Eugene Goodman". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  4. ↑ Brown, Stacy M. (January 23, 2021). "'Hero' Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman promoted to acting deputy sergeant-at-arms". Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  5. 1 2 Marcus, Josh (February 13, 2021). "Eugene Goodman, police officer hailed as Capitol riots hero, awarded congressional medal". The Independent. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  6. ↑ Shane, Leo III (January 13, 2021). "Hero Capitol Police officer is a 101st Airborne veteran". Military Times. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  7. ↑ Johnson, Stephon (January 14, 2021). "American Hero: Eugene Goodman defends the Capitol". New York Amsterdam News. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  8. ↑ Kanno-Youngs, Zolan; Schmitt, Eric (February 12, 2021). "Videos Turn Eugene Goodman Into a Reluctant Hero in the Capitol Attack". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Video of this lone Capitol Police officer speaks volumes — even if he won't". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. January 15, 2021. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  10. 1 2 Andrew, Scottie (January 12, 2021). "How a lone Capitol Police officer lured rioters away from the Senate chambers". CNN. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  11. ↑ O'Kane, Caitlin (January 12, 2021). "Black officer seen risking his life to lead Capitol mob away from Senate chamber hailed as a hero". CBS News. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  12. ↑ Honderich, Holly (January 13, 2021). "Capitol police officer Eugene Goodman hailed as 'a hero'". BBC News. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  13. ↑ Sturdivant, Randolph Terrance (January 11, 2021). "A lone Black officer faced down violent US Capitol mob, fooled them to save lives | Reese's Final Thought". WUSA9. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  14. ↑ Longo, Adam; Boykin, Nick (January 11, 2021). "Congressional lawmakers share 'frightening' insight into Capitol riot, how a police officer saved lives". WFAA. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  15. ↑ "'He's a Hero!': Capitol Officer Could Receive Congressional Gold Medal". NBC Washington. January 14, 2021. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  16. 1 2 Sasse, Ben (January 16, 2021). "QAnon Is Destroying the GOP From Within". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  17. ↑ Johnson, Jason (January 15, 2021). "Capitol officer Eugene Goodman must not fade into history — it's happened before". TheGrio. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  18. ↑ Rahman, Khaleda (January 14, 2021). "Eugene Goodman, Capitol Officer Who Lured Mob Away, Hailed by His Former Airborne Corps". Newsweek. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  19. ↑ McLaughlin, Kelly (January 11, 2021). "Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman is being hailed as a hero for facing down an angry mob of Trump supporters and drawing them away from the Senate chamber". Business Insider. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  20. ↑ Qamar, Aysha (January 14, 2021). "He went viral for saving the Senate, but Army vet Eugene Goodman 'was a hero long before'". Daily Kos. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  21. 1 2 Gillum, Jack (January 15, 2021). ""Where They Countin' the Votes?!": New Video Details Tense Moments as Capitol Mob Sought Out Lawmakers". ProPublica. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  22. ↑ Bacon, John (January 11, 2021). "Capitol Police officer being hailed as a hero for drawing angry mob away from Senate floor". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  23. ↑ McLeod, Paul (February 10, 2021). "New Impeachment Video Shows Officer Eugene Goodman Saving Mitt Romney From Running Into Capitol Rioters". BuzzFeed News. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  24. ↑ Harrison, Jaime [@harrisonjaime] (January 10, 2021). "The word hero does not appropriately describe officer Eugene Goodman. His judgment & heroism may have saved our Republic. I hope @SpeakerPelosi @SenSchumer @WhipClyburn consider him for the Congressional Medal of Honor. It is the least we can do" (Tweet). Retrieved January 20, 2021– via Twitter.
  25. 1 2 "H.R.305 – To award a Congressional Gold Medal to Officer Eugene Goodman". Congress.gov. January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  26. ↑ Blitzer, Ronn (January 14, 2021). "Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman should be awarded Congressional Gold Medal, lawmakers say in resolution". Fox News. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  27. ↑ Williams, Jordan (January 14, 2021). "Lawmakers introduce bill to award Capitol Police officer Congressional Gold Medal". The Hill. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  28. ↑ Guerilus, Stephanie (January 14, 2021). "Lawmakers want to honor Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman with Congressional Gold Medal". TheGrio. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  29. ↑ Jacobo, Julia; Turner, Trish (February 11, 2021). "Mitt Romney thanks Capitol Officer Eugene Goodman for leading him away from rioters". ABC News. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  30. ↑ Major, Derek (January 13, 2021). "Petition to Award Black Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman a Medal for Bravery Picking Up Steam". Black Enterprise. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  31. ↑ Cochrane, Emily (January 20, 2021). "Eugene Goodman, a Capitol Police officer who diverted the mob during the riot, escorted Harris". The New York Times. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  32. ↑ Kamala Harris Escorted By Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman. NBC News. January 20, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021– via YouTube.
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