U.S. Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Don Beyer (VA-8) introduced bipartisan legislation to honor United States Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick, who died from wounds received in the line of duty while defending the U.S. Capitol from attack on Jan. 6.
Beyer, who represented Sicknick in the House, and Watson Coleman, who represents much of Sicknick’s family, introduced a bipartisan House Resolution honoring Sicknick’s life and sacrifice as well as a bipartisan bill to posthumously award him a Congressional Gold Medal on Jan. 28.
“Officer Brian Sicknick dedicated himself to defending the United States and honoring the oath he took to defend our Constitution,” Watson Coleman said in a prepared statement. “His actions along with those of his fellow officers will be remembered as a shining example of patriotic duty on an otherwise dark day in our nation’s history. While no measure we take can replace his life, Congress can and should honor him with its highest civilian award. May his life serve as an example of duty to one’s country that all Americans can celebrate.”
“Officer Brian Sicknick was a hero who lived his life in service to his country before making the ultimate sacrifice to protect the seat of American government and the people’s representatives,” Beyer said in the statement. “His death is a tragedy we can never resolve, but it is fitting that Congress honor his life, courage, and ideals. We will never forget Officer Sicknick, who gave his life in defense of our democracy.”
Beyer and Watson Coleman waited to introduce their legislation, according to the statement, until they had secured the approval and support of the Sicknick family, who resides in South River.
Sicknick was responding to the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and was injured while physically engaging with protesters, according to information provided by the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP).
He returned to his division office and collapsed, according to reports. He was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries at approximately 9:30 p.m. Jan. 7.
The death of Sicknick is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch, the USCP and federal partners.
Sicknick joined the USCP in July 2008, and most recently served in the department’s First Responder’s Unit.
Before joining the Capitol Police, Staff Sgt. Sicknick served with the New Jersey Air National Guard. He was a fire team member and leader with the 108th Security Force Squadron, 108th Wing, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, and his six years of service included overseas deployments in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom.
A copy of the resolution to honor Sicknick is available at https://beyer.house.gov/uploadedfiles/resolution_honoring_officer_brian_d._sicknick.pdf
Text of the legislation to posthumously award Sicknick a Congressional Gold Medal is available at https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/uploadedfiles/officer_brian_d._sicknick_congressional_gold_medal_act.pdf
- Information from prior reports, secured by Vashti Harris and Jennifer Amato, are included in this article.
