3:26 PM

Capitol Police Officer Suicide After January 6 Recognized As Line Of Duty Death

Jenny Gathright | https://twitter.com/jennygathright

More than a year and a half after U.S. Capitol Police officer Howard “Howie” Liebengood died by suicide in the aftermath of the violent January 6 Capitol insurrection, the Department of Justice has designated his death as having occurred in the line of duty. This recognition means that his family will be entitled to benefits under the Public Safety Officer Benefits Program — an outcome they have been fighting for since his death.

“The determination is significant, healing, relieving, and we are grateful for it,” wrote Liebengood’s wife Serena Liebengood and siblings Anne Winters and John Liebengood in a statement. “Anyone who knew Howie knew he was kind-hearted and fiercely loyal. We all desperately miss his one-of-a-kind smile and his warm, gentle temperament, but we take some solace in knowing that Howie has officially received this well-deserved honor.”

Liebengood died a few days after the insurrection in January of 2021. In an op-ed published on the anniversary of the insurrection, his wife Serena said that in addition to working to defend the U.S. Capitol that day, he worked “nearly around the clock” on January 7, 8, and 9, barely sleeping between shifts.

“Sleep-deprived and exhausted, my husband took his life the night of Jan. 9,” wrote Serena Liebengood. “If it had not been for the events of Jan. 6 and the unremitting work schedule on the ensuing days, I believe my husband would still be here.” ... Serena Liebengood said that the proper designation of her husband’s death was part of a broader push for acknowledgment of the mental health struggles of law enforcement.

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