Acting D.C. Metropolitan Police Chief Robert J. Contee III on Friday explained his department’s actions during this week’s attack on the U.S. Capitol to a social media audience invited by D.C. Council member Trayon White Friday.
Contee made it clear to the 300 people who viewed his 15-minute conversation with White that MPD officers were requested to go to the Capitol to quell the violence.
“We were invited by the leaders of the Capitol Police department,” he said. “We were asked to support the Capitol Police department. They have a very large force that protects the U.S. Capitol. It is larger than the Prince George’s County and Montgomery County police forces. We are charged with protecting D.C.”
Contee said 56 MPD officers were injured in the melee. He pointed out the FBI is leading the investigation into the insurrectionists’ crimes.
He expressed pride in how his officers handled their assignments.
“The insurrection was an assault on our democracy,” he said. “When we arrived, the situation was already out of control. We found out later there were pipe bombs at two nearby sites, too. Working with our partners, we did what we had to do.”
Contee said law enforcement officers who aided and abetted the insurrectionists will be investigated and if found culpable, they will be held accountable for their actions.
“We will work with our federal partners to bring these people to justice,” he said.