Ranking Member Raskin Urges Law Enforcement Memorial Fund to Honor All Fallen January 6 Officers

Washington, D.C. (June 2, 2026)—Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to the Chief Executive Officer of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund demanding answers regarding the exclusion of officers who died by suicide following their heroic actions in defense of the Congress on January 6, 2021.  

“As you are aware, the profound trauma of these events led directly to the deaths by suicide of Officers Liebengood, Smith, DeFreytag, and Hashida. Although their friend and fellow officer Brian Sicknick has been rightfully added to the Memorial, these four officers remain completely unrecognized and their deaths unacknowledged by the Memorial. This enormous slight to these officers and their families depreciates the true sacrifice and heroic service offered not only by law enforcement officers who leave us by suicide but by all law enforcement officers mentally and emotionally wounded by violence and trauma on the job,” wrote the Ranking Member.

Each of these officers played a critical role in defending the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, protecting Members of Congress, staff and the Vice President from a violent attack on American democracy. After sustaining physical and mental injuries from the attack, each sadly took his own life in the weeks that followed. Officer Libengoodserved the Capitol Police for fifteen years. Officer Smith was a twelve-year veteran of the Metropolitan Police. Officer DeFreytag was just twenty-six years old and served honorably with the MPD for four years. Officer Hashida served MPD for 18 years and was a loving father of three. The service and sacrifice of these officers must be acknowledged and recognized. 

More than 140 law enforcement officers were injured during the January 6 attack, many suffering serious physical harm as well as lasting psychological trauma. While U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick—who died following injuries sustained during the attack—has been rightfully honored on the Memorial, Officers Liebengood, Smith, DeFreytag, and Hashida remain excluded more than five years later.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund previously voted in 2024 to allow deaths by suicide to be considered for inclusion, acknowledging the profound toll that line-of-duty trauma can take on officers. However, that process was later paused, leaving these cases unresolved and families without recognition.

“It is incomprehensible to me that these officers have not been recognized yet,” wrote Ranking Member Raskin.

In addition to urging immediate action, Ranking Member Raskin is seeking detailed information about the Memorial Fund’s decision-making process, including whether these officers were ever formally considered, what criteria are being applied, and why the review of suicide-related cases has been halted.

Click here to read the letter.