Feinstein worried over Capitol Police morale

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) expressed her concern over worsening morale within the U.S. Capitol Police Department Wednesday.

“We don’t want an adversarial relationship within the department,” said Feinstein at a Senate Rules and Administration Committee hearing. “I very much hope that the chief [of police] will take some action to improve interaction.”

{mosads}Feinstein’s comments come in the wake of a survey in which more than 300 officers expressed their dissatisfaction with Capitol Police Chief Phillip Morse’s leadership.

Matt Tighe, the chairman of the Capitol Police labor union, testified that a lack of communication between departmental management and officers was at the heart of the department’s discord and that, if it was not addressed, the force would not be able to protect the Capitol effectively.

“A demoralized police force is incapable of effectively achieving the goals and missions of the department,” Tighe said. “Specifically, the officers’ anguish stems from a breakdown in communication, accountability and leadership, which has sown doubt and distrust.”

Morse said he was open to increasing dialogue with officers and labor union officials and that he did not take their complaints personally.

“If I need to do a better job of communicating changes, then that’s what I’ll do,” Morse said. “It isn’t about me, it’s about the institution. I don’t sit around and think about what people think about me.”

Committee members met privately with Morse after the hearing to discuss the removal of the director of the Capitol Police’s human resources department last month.

Former director Jennifer McCarthy was placed on administrative leave after it was revealed that two classes of police recruits did not undergo criminal background checks or psychological evaluations. 

Fifteen of the recruits were subsequently told they would not be hired by the department. Eight of them are appealing the decision.

Currently, both the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, which Feinstein chairs, and the House Administration Committee must approve all recommended Capitol Police hires.

But Feinstein proposed to rid the committees of this role and to entrust the Capitol Police Board, which is made up of the Architect of the Capitol and the Senate and House sergeants at arms, with all of the department’s hiring.

“I believe [the hiring rule] to be a mistake, and I’ll be seeking a bill to give the authority to the Capitol Police Board,” Feinstein said.