Morse gets tough review from Capitol Police officers

U.S. Capitol Police Chief Phillip Morse received overwhelmingly unfavorable results in a survey of officers that was released Monday.

More than 300 officers responded to the online survey, which posed a series of statements centering on Morse’s job performance and asked participants whether they agreed or disagreed with them. Out of the ten questions, the chief did not receive higher than a 16 percent approval rating.

{mosads}Ninety-five percent of respondents said they disagreed that Morse “carefully considers how policy changes might affect officers in both the short term and long term.”

“I think the results speak for themselves,” said Matt Tighe, chairman of the Capitol Police Labor Committee. “They represent a snapshot of the feelings of the rank and file that protect our Capitol.”

More than 90 percent of respondents to the survey, which was voluntary and open for two weeks, said “the lack of trust and miscommunications” within the department “impedes our ability to serve and protect the Capitol, members of Congress and the Senate, visitors and staff.”

Officers who were dissatisfied with the chief’s leadership suggested the survey at a labor union meeting last month after feelings of discontent were voiced in the wake of several managerial failings.

The director of the human resources department was removed last month after it was revealed that two classes of Capitol Police recruits had not undergone criminal background checks or psychological evaluations

The Capitol Police bomb squad also came under fire recently as documents surfaced that indicated its shortage of training, experience and equipment.

The union commissioned VoteNet, an online voting company, to conduct the survey.

Tighe plans to bring the results with him on Wednesday as part of his testimony before the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, which has scheduled a hearing to explore the Capitol Police’s recent mishaps.