“Her (Pittman) unwillingness to declare his suicide on January 9 as ‘on duty’ is an injustice that needs to be rectified,” Liebengood wrote in the letter to Wexton.
Wexton asked Pittman during the trial in February why the death of Officer Liebengood was not considered the duty, and Pittman dismissed the question, saying it was still being investigated. In an interview with CNN, Wexton said she held subsequent talks with Capitol police leaders, where they said it was unlikely death would get the “in line of duty” designation while investigating the corridor is. If his death were designated as such, his family would be entitled to a myriad of benefits to which they do not currently have access.
“That’s not what this is about,” Wexton said of the loss of access to the benefits. “It’s more about the principle of their understanding that PTSD and the tragedy associated with the events of January 6 are genuine. And that the stigma that police officers follow after this, and then the unwillingness to seek help, is also real. “
In a statement to CNN, Pittman said they would always “appreciate Howie’s commitment to our department and Congress” and that “the department has given Howie’s family his much deserved death penalty.”
“While I want to support the Liebengood family as best I can, Line of Duty Death statements are given to officers who are dying while performing official law enforcement responsibilities,” Pittman said in the statement. “Even the deaths of law enforcement officers who tragically took their own lives after the 9/11 terrorist attacks are not considered Line of Duty Deaths.”
Pittman also said that “the department has always made resources available for mental health and significantly increased the resources after January 6.”
“The USCP family still mourns the tragic and untimely death of Officer Howie Liebengood, with whom I prayed and comforted with my family and friends,” Pittman said.
In addition to Liebengood, Metropolitan Police Officer Jeffery Smith died by suicide in the days following the uprising. Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick also lost his life due to injuries he sustained on the day. According to officials, 140 officers sustained injuries on January 6.
Liebengood went into detail in the letter about her husband’s struggle during the week of the uprising. She describes his incredible workload and the toll it took on him both physically and mentally.
“After helping riot control at the Capitol on January 6, USCP Howie planned to work long shifts in the immediate days. He was home for many hours over the course of four days,” she writes. “Although he was severely insomniac, he remained on duty – as he was employed almost 24 hours directly from 6 to 9 January. On the evening of the 9th he took his life at our house.”
Howie Liebengood was a 15-year veteran of the Capitol Police Force and his father, Howie Liebengood Sr., previously served as a Senate weapons sergeant. His widow took note of his family’s deep connection to the American Capitol and its protection. Liebengood also once served as a Senate. His widow argued that his death, and the deaths of others who had lost their lives in connection with the uprising, should lead to serious reforms of the Capitol security situation.
“The Liebengood family wants Howie’s death not in vain,” reads the letter. “Recognizing the cause of his death, as well as the critical investigation into the riot, will remain central to how we rectify the tragedies and help avoid their recurrence.”
Liebengood asked Wexton to share the letter with colleagues from Congress in an effort to strive to review the system and to help change her husband’s death classification. In an interview with CNN, Wexton said he hopes other members of Congress will take note of Liebengood’s story and make the necessary changes.
“Howie would always be with us, but for the events of January 6,” Wexton said. “There is a lack of need for mental health services for Capitol police officers around this event and even before.”
The Liebengood family said in a statement to CNN that they hope that by coming forward for the change they believe is needed: ‘Howie has spent 15 years of his life protecting these elected officials, as well as millions visitors to the US Capitol every year. Officials on both sides of the aisle saw firsthand the catastrophic events of January 6th. We’m sure they realize this tragedy led to Howie’s death. ‘