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The U.S. Capitol Police Officers’ Union criticized the appointment of Sean Gallagher as the force’s interim chief, saying in a Tuesday statement that he “fails to meet the standard of trust and integrity required to lead the U.S. Capitol Police force.”
Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) for comment via email on Tuesday.
Why It Matters
Gallagher’s appointment as acting head of the USCP follows Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger’s announcement of his retirement in May, after serving in the role for four years.
Gallagher was named interim chief by the Capitol Police Board, which is also responsible for finding a permanent successor to Manger.
Alex Brandon/AP
What To Know
“In April, the union publicly advocated for the Capitol Police Board to choose a new Chief with integrity who has earned the trust of the front-line officers, to succeed retiring Chief J. Thomas Manger,” the USCP union said in a statement Tuesday.
“Instead, the Board has elevated an individual who has previously been recommended for termination from the force following allegations of his involvement in a scheme to defraud the USCP of thousands of dollars in an overtime scam,” the statement continued.
It went on to say that Gallagher was one of the senior officers “whose failures” on January 6, 2021, “saw Capitol Police Officers underprepared and overwhelmed by rioters during the attack on the U.S. Capitol.”
Gus Papathanasiou, the chair of the USCP union, said Gallagher “fails to meet the standard of trust and integrity required to lead the U.S. Capitol Police force.”
“We’re astounded the Board would even consider Gallagher for the role,” he continued. “The Capitol Police force cannot continue to see problem officers ‘fail upwards,’ winning promotions instead of demotions commensurate with their actions.”
This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.