The Justice Department’s Public Safety Officers’ Benefits [PSOB] program has recognized that a U.S. Capitol Police officer’s suicide, which occurred after he responded to the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021, was a death in the line of duty.
Howard Liebengood was one of four officers to commit suicide after responding to the Capitol building as rioters were attempting to overturn President Biden’s election victory.
The 51-year-old officer had been with the department since April 2005 and was assigned to the Senate Division at the time of his death.
The Liebengood family statement released through the Fraternal Order of Police reads, “Howie was kind-hearted and passionately loyal, as everyone who knew him could attest. We take some comfort in the fact that Howie has officially been bestowed with this deserving honor, even though we all terribly miss his one-of-a-kind smile and his friendly, gentle temperament.”
Liebengood committed suicide a few days after the Capitol riots. In order to be eligible for death benefits, his family had been trying to get his death recognized as being in the line of duty.
According to the family, the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits program granted the death benefit claim.
Per Patrick Yoes, national president of the Fraternal Order of Police, “no amount of money will bring Howie back to his family, but their successful claim is an important step in acknowledging that law enforcement suicides are service-connected and should be seen for what they are—line of duty deaths.”
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The Department of Justice has charged hundreds of people in connection with the Capitol riot. At least 955 people have been charged in the Capitol insurrection so far.
The number is expected to keep growing as FBI agents pore through video footage, social media posts, phone location data, and tips from the public.