After insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6 — killing one capitol officer, nearly crushing another and injuring more than 100 others— morale on the force has been understandably low.
But there’s a new officer in town. And she’s packin’ a holster filled with high-caliber emotional support. Lila, a two-year old black lab, will join the U.S. Capitol Police force in July as their first ever emotional support animal.
Lila was a donation from retired Riverside Department Sheriffs Department Captain, Dr. Coby Webb, who runs a charity seeking to repurpose guide dogs who did not make the cut. Webb’s charity partners with Guide Dogs of the Desert. Several dogs have already been retrained for their new commissions and have joined police forces nationwide.
“We [ . . .] want people in law enforcement careers for 20-plus years. Those decisions you make and those impacts are crucial,” Webb told a CBS Washington, D.C. affiliate. “I don’t want you stressed out. I don’t want you making poor decisions.”
The presence of emotional support dogs is hoped to calm overstressed officers, thereby improving split-second decision making and negotiating skills. They can also provide stress relief for officers and crime victims following tense or violent encounters.
“We are thrilled to welcome the newest member of our department,” Capitol police tweeted along with a picture of Lila.
Capitol Officer Brian Sicknick, attacked during the insurrection, died from strokes he suffered the following day, a medical examiner said. Another Capitol Officer, Howie Liebengood, and D.C. Officer, Jeffrey Smith, died by suicide in the days after the attack. On April 2, Capitol Officer Billy Evans was killed when a car rammed a security barricade.
Officers have reportedly experienced post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression and fear since the January 6 Capitol attack. Many have complained that lawmakers have not thrown their weight behind them. More than 70 officers have left the force over the past six months, according to one union representative.
At least two members of Congress haven’t been sitting on their hands. Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) has called for bolstering mental health resources for Capitol Police. Tim Ryan (R-OH) has teamed up with Dr. Jim Gordon of D.C.’s Center for Mind-Body Medicine to provide officers with resources to aid the healing process.
Perhaps our nation’s law enforcement agencies could use a little less talk of defunding and a lot more front-line emotional support — for everyone’s sake.