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"I was stunned at the tepid response from Department of the Army, which was reluctant to send the D.C. National Guard to the Capitol," said Contee about D.C.'s request for assistance when the Capitol was breached.
"While I certainly understand the importance of both planning and public perception... these issues become secondary when you are watching your employees, vastly outnumbered by a mob, being physically assaulted," he added.
"Our police officers were under attack, the Capitol — hallowed ground for our country – was under attack, and the constitutional electoral process – the very foundation of our democracy – was under attack. MPD’s police officers were engaged in a literal battle for hours."
More Contee: "This was not a peaceful protest; this was not a crowd trying to express their first amendment rights – rights which we are proud to protect regardless of belief. At the end of the day, this was an assault on our democracy, and MPD officers held the line."
"The costs for this insurrection – both human and monetary – will be steep. During the height of the incident, approximately 850 MPD members were at the Capitol, and by the day’s end, an additional estimate of 250 had been in the area," he said.
"Other harm from this traumatic day will be widely felt but possibly unacknowledged. Law enforcement training neither anticipates nor prepares for hours of hand-to-hand combat. Even brief physical fights are physically and emotionally draining," said Contee.
More Contee: "MPD is working to support the emotional well-being of our officers who experienced this. The officers who were deployed elsewhere on the 6th share in the trauma of their colleagues, many frustrated that they could not rush in to stand on the line with them."
Here is Contee's full written testimony: https://mpdc.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/mpdc/release_content/attachments/TESTIMONY_COP_January%206_FINAL.pdf
