Security lapses draw heat on Capitol Police

The Capitol Police are taking heavy fire from members of Congress over major security breaches that placed the lawmakers and their staffs at risk.

The law enforcement agency charged with securing the U.S. Capitol building is embroiled in controversy after a series of recent apparent security lapses.

Chief among them are a string of embarrassing cases involving Capitol Police officers who forgot their guns in public bathrooms.

The agency also came under congressional scrutiny for officers’ response last month when an unauthorized pilot crossed into restricted airspace and landed his gyrocopter on the Capitol’s west lawn.

The negative publicity have put Capitol Police Chief Kim Dine on defense, as the lawmakers he is sworn to protect are letting their frustrations with the force be known.

“These are very serious breaches that alarm all of us,” House Administration Committee Chairwoman Candice Miller (R-Mich.) scolded Dine during a hearing Wednesday. “When you are in an open public environment with literally millions of visitors each year, securing your weapon is of primary importance.”

Capitol Police officers accidentally left their guns in public restrooms while on duty on three separate occasions between January and April, according to reports first published by Roll Call.

These officers unholstered their weapons when they went to the bathroom, but forgot to grab them before they exited.

Two of the officers were assigned to the personal security details for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio).

In one instance, a small child later found a loaded weapon in the Speaker’s suite.

“Don’t leave your gun in the bathroom,” Rep. Richard Nugent (R-Fla.) said at the hearing. “That’s common sense 101, right chief?”

“That’s a gross problem if you leave a gun [in the bathroom], and particularly when a child sees it,” Nugent added.

The Capitol Police chief said there are “no excuses” for the security breaches. He promised major reforms to patch the holes in security, including more training for officers and stricter disciplinary actions.

The police officers involved will be “dealt with firmly and effectively,” Dine told lawmakers, but critics have questioned the behind-the-scenes disciplinary process at his agency.

“Obviously, while these acts were not done on purposes, they are unacceptable,” Dine said. “One cannot leave your weapon anywhere. It has to be secured at all times.”

Dine said he is considering increasing the penalty for Capitol Police officers who leave their guns unattended to a minimum suspension of 30 days for the first offense from the current 5-day suspension.

Capitol Police officers who repeatedly mishandle their weapons would be terminated, he said.

The police chief also said his agency is stepping up gun safety training since the incident, so officers can better keep track of their weapons when nature calls.

The lawmakers suggested the Capitol Police lock up their guns in secure containers before going to the bathroom.

“We do provide lock boxes to our officers,” Dine explained. “Those are generally kept in their homes. There are lock boxes around in various office locations. So if someone has time, they may have the ability to go secure their weapon before they go to the bathroom.”

“But as I mentioned, we are now providing additional training on what to do when you have to go to the bathroom,” he added.

Lawmakers also expressed concerns about the gyrocopter.

The pilot, Douglas Hughes, was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday for illegally flying in restricted airspace and landing on the Capitol lawn. He faces more than nine years in prison, if convicted.

The Florida mailman had made known his plans to fly to the Capitol to deliver letters to Congress about campaign finance reform.

“Thank god it was nobody that really meant us harm, but who knows,” Miller said.
“My concern is most criminals don’t televise the date and time of a criminal activity they will engage in,” said Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Miss.). “This gentleman came as close to doing that as you can.”
“What happens the next time?” Harper asked.

Before he arrived, Hughes reached out to a Florida newspaper with his story. The newspaper then emailed the Capitol Police about a half hour before he landed, but police chief said the threat didn’t make it all the way up the chain of command in time.

“I’m wondering how much advance notice that the Capitol Police had that this gyrocopter was coming, if boots on the ground understood it was coming?” Miller asked.

The Capitol Police chief said his agency is inundated with thousands of threats each year.

“How many emails do you get like that each day?” asked Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.).

“About a gyrocopter?” Dine responded. “Not many gyrocopter emails.”

In the email, the police chief said the agency was not informed when the pilot would be landing.

Capitol Police were also provided with a live stream of the flight, according to Miller. “It would seem as though someone would tune in,” she said.

“We attempted to tune in,” Dine responded. “We had no luck immediately.”

The Capitol Police had weapons in place to shoot down the gyrocopter, but elected not to, Dine said.

Hughes had been investigated by Secret Service and Capitol Police a few years ago over a similar threat, Dine revealed.

“At that time, he was deemed to not be a threat,” Dine said.