Death of Brian Sicknick
Brian Sicknick | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Brian David Sicknick July 30, 1978 |
| Died | January 7, 2021 (aged 42) |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery Arlington County, Virginia |
| Police career | |
| Department |  United States Capitol Police |
| Service years | 2008–2021 |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service | |
| Years of service | 1997–2003 |
| Rank |  Staff sergeant |
| Battles / wars | |
| Alma mater | University of Phoenix (B.S), 2013 |
Brian David Sicknick (July 30, 1978 – January 7, 2021) was an American police officer of the United States Capitol Police who died following the 2021 storming of the Capitol.[1] He lay in honor at the Capitol rotunda and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. A native of South River, New Jersey, Sicknick served in the New Jersey Air National Guard from 1997 through 2003. He was deployed to Operation Southern Watch in 1999 and Operation Enduring Freedom in 2003. Sicknick later moved to Springfield, Virginia and joined the Capitol Police in 2008.
Early life and career
Sicknick was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey to Gladys and Charles Sicknick. He grew up in South River, New Jersey as the youngest of three sons.[2] He attended the Calico Cat Preschool of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in South River from 1981 to 1983.[3] Sicknick attended East Brunswick Technical High School to study electronics, but later aspired to become a police officer.[4] He graduated from the high school in 1997.[5]
After struggling to find a job as a police officer, Sicknick joined the New Jersey Air National Guard in 1997 "as a means to that end".[4] He served on the 108th Wing at Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst, as a fire team member and leader with the security force squadron.[6] In 1998, he wrote a letter to Home News Tribune, his local newspaper, expressing his skepticism towards America's soft stance against Saddam Hussein.[3]
He was deployed to Saudi Arabia to support Operation Southern Watch in 1999, and to Kyrgyzstan to support Operation Enduring Freedom in 2003.[6] Sicknick later criticized U.S. motivations for the War in Afghanistan and the government's strategy in the Iraq War. In 2003, he wrote again to Home News Tribune, noting a decline in morale among troops.[3] He was honorably discharged in the same year as a staff sergeant.[6]
Sicknick also worked as a school custodian in Cranbury, New Jersey.[3] He later moved to Springfield, Virginia[7] and joined the United States Capitol Police in July 2008.[8] One of his first assignments occurred during the first inauguration of Barack Obama.[4] On December 31, 2013, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree from the University of Phoenix.[2] Sicknick was an outspoken supporter of Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election, but was remembered for comforting Caroline Behringer, a staffer for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as she returned to work at the Capitol following Trump's victory.[3]
Storming of the Capitol
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During the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, Sicknick was a member of the police department's first responder unit.[4] The day after the storming, Capitol police stated he had been injured while physically engaging with protesters. The exact cause of his injuries has not been made public.[1] He initially texted his brother later that night, reporting that he had been twice attacked with pepper spray and was "in good shape". He later collapsed at the Capitol, and was resuscitated by CPR. By the following day, he had experienced a stroke and had a blood-clot, and was surviving on a ventilator. Premature reports of his death spread among law enforcement circles, which led to confusion among journalists and Sicknick's family until Capitol police denied the rumors an hour later. Capitol police later reported that Sicknick had died around 9:30 pm on January 7. Family members had not yet arrived at the hospital when he died.[4]
On January 8, Pelosi ordered flags at the Capitol to be lowered to half-staff in honor of Sicknick.[9] Vice President Mike Pence called Sicknick's family to offer his condolences, and a deputy press secretary for the Trump administration issued a written statement.[10] In the following weekend, Trump ordered flags to be flown at half-staff at all federal buildings, grounds, and vessels from January 10 through 13.[11] The governors of New Jersey and Virginia also ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in their respective states on January 11.[12][13]
On January 12, a memorial service was held in Sicknick's hometown of South River, New Jersey. His family, Senator Bob Menendez, and local officials were in attendance. Menendez presented to Sicknick's family the flag that had flown over the Capitol in his honor.[14] Sicknick's high school, East Brunswick Technical High School, announced plans to plant an oak tree on campus.[5]
On January 29, Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that Sicknick would lie in honor at the Capitol rotunda.[15] The arrival ceremony began on the evening of February 2 at the Capitol's east front, followed by a viewing period attended by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.[15] Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff paid their respects on February 3, along with several legislators and police officers.[16] Later that day, Sicknick's remains departed the Capitol for burial at Arlington National Cemetery.[17]
See also
- Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson — Capitol police officers who were killed during the 1998 United States Capitol shooting
References
- ^ a b Perez, Evan; Shortell, David; Wild, Whitney (February 2, 2021). "Investigators struggle to build murder case in death of US Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick". CNN. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Obituary: Brian David Sicknick". Dignity Memorial. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Diamond, Michael L.; Loyer, Susan; Russell, Suzanne; Tufaro, Greg (January 8, 2021). "NJ hometown 'in shock' after Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick dies in D.C. riot". My Central Jersey. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c d e McSwane, J. David (January 8, 2021). ""This Political Climate Got My Brother Killed": Officer Brian Sicknick Died Defending the Capitol. His Family Waits for Answers". ProPublica. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Catalini, Mike; Merchant, Nomaan (January 10, 2021). "'Brian did his job': Family remembers fallen Capitol officer, military veteran". Military Times. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c Pawlyk, Oriana (January 8, 2021). "Police Officer Killed in US Capitol Siege Was Air National Guard Veteran, Deployed to Iraq". Military.com. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Hauck, Grace (January 8, 2021). "What to know about Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, who died from injuries after pro-Trump riot". USA Today. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Ellis, Ralph (January 9, 2021). "Capitol Police officer who died when mob stormed the Capitol was proud to serve his nation, family said". CNN. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Chappell, Bill (January 8, 2021). "U.S. Capitol Flag Will Fly At Half-Staff; FBI Offers Reward Over Pipe Bombs". NPR. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Perez, Evan; LeBlanc, Paul (January 8, 2021). "Federal murder investigation to be opened in Capitol Police officer's death". CNN. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Diamond, Jeremy; LeBlanc, Paul (January 10, 2021). "White House orders flags lowered to honor late police officers who responded to US Capitol breach". CNN. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ CBS New York Team (January 9, 2021). "New Jersey Governor Orders Flags At Half-Staff In Honor Of Slain Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick". CBS New York. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Associated Press (January 10, 2021). "Flags will fly at half-staff in Virginia to honor slain Capitol Police officer". WTVR-TV. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Loyer, Susan (January 12, 2021). "Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick remembered in his hometown of South River". My Central Jersey. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Kelly, Caroline; Hoffman, Jason (February 2, 2021). "Bidens pay their respects to Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick as officer lies in honor at Capitol". CNN. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Biden, Harris pay respects to Capitol officer killed in riot". 6ABC. February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Clark, Dartunorro (January 29, 2021). "Brian Sicknick, Capitol Police officer who died from riot injuries, to lie in honor in Rotunda". NBC News. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
