NYT: For Many of Us, Jan. 6 Never Ended

[Dennis Donovan]

NYT - For Many of Us, Jan. 6 Never Ended (gift article)

Jan. 5, 2025, 6:00 a.m. ET



By Aquilino Gonell
Mr. Gonell is a former sergeant in the Capitol Police and the author, with Susan Shapiro, of “American Shield: The Immigrant Sergeant Who Defended Democracy.”

For those who didn’t experience the violence, Jan. 6, 2021, might feel like it’s in the past — but it’s not for me. I keep reliving the five horrific hours of that cold Wednesday afternoon, as I tried to protect elected officials, regardless of their political ideology, and their staffs inside the Capitol building — all without firing my gun.

For my efforts doing my duty as a Capitol Police sergeant, I was beaten and struck by raging rioters all over my body with multiple weapons until I was covered in my own blood. My hand, foot and shoulder were wounded. I thought I was going to die and never make it home to see my wife and young son.

Over the last four years, it’s been devastating to me to hear Donald Trump repeat his promise to pardon insurrectionists on the first day he’s back in office. “It will be my great honor to pardon the peaceful protesters, or as I often call them, the hostages,” he said in a speech last year. But all of us who were there and anyone who watched on TV know that those who stormed the Capitol were not peaceful protesters. Pardoning them would be an outrageous mistake, one that could mean about 800 convicted criminals will be back on the street.

It could also put me in danger, as I’ve continued to testify in court and I’ve given victim statements in cases against dozens of the rioters who assaulted me and my fellow officers.

I was one of the fortunate ones that day; nine people wound up dead as a result of the rampage. Two protesters had fatal medical episodes, one rioter overdosed during the uproar and another was fatally shot by a policeman while forcing her way into the House Chamber. One of my colleagues, 42-year-old Officer Brian Sicknick, suffered two strokes after the trauma of fighting off multiple protesters who sprayed him with a chemical irritant. He didn’t survive. Four D.C. policemen harmed in the riots later died by suicide.

My friend Harry Dunn, the first law enforcement member to prominently condemn the brazen uprising, testified about our primitive hand-to-hand fighting against improvised weaponry like flagpoles, metal bike racks and projectiles, with officers bleeding, blinded and coughing from bear spray. Called racial slurs, Harry has since retired his blue uniform. My co-worker Michael Fanone was beaten, burned and electrically shocked. He suffered a heart attack, concussion and traumatic brain injury that caused him to also leave his position at the Metropolitan Police. While physically recovering, he’s been the target of constant harassment from Trump supporters and has struggled to find steady work. Steven Sund, who was the Capitol Police chief, has been scapegoated and resigned under pressure.

/snip

[Scrivener7]

1. The 19th is going to be a terrible day for them.

I hope they stay far away.

[bottomofthehill]

5. Many of those who were attacked will be there doing their job

Protecting the transfer of administrations as the oath they took is to the constitution and they will do their job. The shame is that they will honor their oath although Trump did not honor his.

[Scrivener7]

6. That's what I mean. All those who were there should be exempt.

[bottomofthehill]

7. That would be over half the department

As much as it suck, their professionalism and honoring their oath to the constitution means something to them. In spite of the beating they took, the lack of support they received, the insults they endure (from many here among other places) and the knowledge that the President elect plans to pardon those that attacked them, they will still do their job. On 1/6, while being attacked, the uscp officers were still administering medical aid to their attackers. Really what they went through and what they did was amazing. They will continue to honor the oath to the constitution.

[Scrivener7]

9. It should still be done. The capitol routinely asks other jurisdictions

for cops for events, though we know they didn't do it on that day.

We're talking about exacerbating PTSD in many cases. Yes, they'd be willing. But they shouldn't be asked.

[bottomofthehill]

10. It would also mean the average officer there on 1/20 would have 2 years on the job

You need senior leaders like Sgt Gonell and others up the chain coupled with the old veteran officers to ensure the safety of the event. The entire of government is at one outside event.

[Scrivener7]

11. See where I said about bringing staff from nearby jurisdictions.

Which is routinely done in DC.

[bottomofthehill]

14. They are the outside the fence team

Not every cop is the same. They do not have the same knowledge or training. A street cop from Philly, or a motor officer from Baltimore or a VA State trooper is not the same, they are not legos that click together. The uscp have knowledge of the Members of Congress, the Staff, the building, the procedures, the rules for engagement and for that matter know who each other are. There are plenty of places that outside departments will be used

[Scrivener7]

25. It seems you need to insist there is no way, and no need, to offer a respite for those who may still

be deeply psychologically affected by their experience.

We disagree.

You do you.

[displacedvermoter]

2. Let's see what is on the front page the day after Trump pardons them

[rampartd]

15. "trum p pardons american patriots"

"rhodes, tarrio to be awarded medal of freedom at parade of heroes"

and that is just the n y times

this is going to be a long season for the english language.

[sop]

3. Members of the Fraternal Order of Police voted to endorse Trump.

[bottomofthehill]

8. FOP shitbags

[dalton99a]

13. +1. Professional courtesy among lawless thugs

[displacedvermoter]

19. Don't get me going on police "unions"

[bottomofthehill]

4. Sgt Gonell is a good man

He fought and bled to protect democracy. His wounds forced him to retire and that is a shame as he was not only a good man and a warrior but he was also a leader. His professionalism is missed.

[Emile]

12. Trump will pardon the traitors.

[paleotn]

20. Only if it suits his purposes. He demands loyalty but is not loyal to anyone.

If it suits his purposes to keep them in jail, that's exactly where they will stay.

[BoRaGard]

16. k and r

[Bluethroughu]

17. Meanwhile one of their own was selling them out to the proud boys.

That cop should be charged with treason, but so should have trump. It all is sickeningly stupid. This is not a TV SHOW, this is our country's history.

[Paladin]

18. Cry us a river, NY Times.

For many of us, Jan. 6 won't be ending for years---thanks to the unending shit dished out on Democrats by the NYT and the rest of the complacent national media. Publishing former officer Gonell's statement doesn't come remotely close to healing the damage done.

[LymphocyteLover]

21. Fuck Trump all the way to hell, and all his treasonous enablers too

[NNadir]

22. Oh, from the NY Times, home of the pro-Trump propagandist Maggie Haggerman and her fellow Trump normalizing...

...so called "Journalists."

They can go fuck themselves.

[Dennis Donovan]

23. It was written by Sgt Aquilino Gonell of the Capitol Police.

Mr. Gonell is a former sergeant in the Capitol Police and the author, with Susan Shapiro, of “American Shield: The Immigrant Sergeant Who Defended Democracy.”

[NNadir]

28. ...and printed in the New York Times, a paper I hold responsible for reinstalling the felon.

[DENVERPOPS]

24. To this day, I contend

that if they had started "dropping" every insurrectionist that came through a window or door, into the capitol, it would have ended much sooner................

#1 reason is that if they saw the consequences of going in, they wouldn't have gone in. Period.

#2 these tough guys are chicken shits at heart, and would have cleared the grounds on a dead run.......

I would love to see the full investigation of how much of this was pre-arranged by the cops superiors who were obviously MAGA Humpers. All the way up to the Secretary of the Army, who literally turned his phone off and couldn't be reached.......

[J_William_Ryan]

26. "...Jan. 6, 2021, might feel like it's in the past..."

No one should forget January 6th, when Trump committed treasonous, historic crimes: attempting to overturn a presidential election, disenfranchise millions of Americans, and disrupt the peaceful transfer of power.

For more than two hours Trump did nothing to stop the violent, lawless attack of the Capitol Building – an attack Trump himself incited.

[Martin Eden]

27. The worst criminal of all will be verified as our next president on the anniversary of his crime

I can't express in words how difficult that is for me to accept.