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CousinIT

(9,151 posts)
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 09:13 AM Oct 2021

On January 6, Park Police were instructed to take no law enforcement action and "let it happen"

WHO. GAVE. THIS. ORDER?

And WHY?


https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/park-police-overwhelmed-hours-before-capitol-breach-on-jan-6th/

. . .

“Ok they’re at the Lincoln Statue with shields and masks?”

“10-4 and [inaudible] taking pictures right now with a flag that says ‘Fuck Antifa.’”

Despite the escalating situation, the officers and react team were then given instructions to not intervene.

A new unit called in, telling the units on the scene to “monitor only. Please do not take any type of enforcement action. Let it happen.”


“Yeah, we’re waiting on y’all,” an officer responded.

“Even when react gets there, monitor only. Let it happen unless we have major major issues.”

At the same time, a call came in from the Washington Monument.

“Just for situational awareness we’re gonna need react squads in the flag circle area…just for safety there’s a guy, a white male walking around the flag circle with a pitchfork,” an officer reported.

The station coordinator repeated the same instructions:

“Ok ma’am 10-4, per [previous instructions] just monitor only at this time.”

A minute later, the react squad arrived at the Lincoln Memorial and were told again to “monitor only.”


. . .
38 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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On January 6, Park Police were instructed to take no law enforcement action and "let it happen" (Original Post) CousinIT Oct 2021 OP
RELATED... CousinIT Oct 2021 #1
Thanks for that. Chris Miller's name jumps out, doesn't it? nt crickets Oct 2021 #34
Until trump is locked away from society for life UpInArms Oct 2021 #2
I have felt this way for years. No one does anything. It is bizarre. triron Oct 2021 #6
THIS malaise Oct 2021 #18
This message was self-deleted by its author malaise Oct 2021 #19
Yes ... "terrible troubles" for sure. KPN Oct 2021 #26
But according to some of the DU elite durablend Oct 2021 #38
And still zero consequences for conspirators dalton99a Oct 2021 #3
Stand down orders? Used to be that phrase would set off a GOPer. Midnight Writer Oct 2021 #4
other stand down orders (1/4/21) before these orders the D.C. National Guard could have .... Botany Oct 2021 #25
Debating with a friend: was this memo to prevent armed sympathizers in NG? lostnfound Oct 2021 #31
Whoever gave the order should be fired. Baitball Blogger Oct 2021 #5
Bet it came from Trump. triron Oct 2021 #7
If so, why are so many being quiet about it? Baitball Blogger Oct 2021 #9
Those with credible info, in the loop, are also the ones who were in on it? jaxexpat Oct 2021 #13
Not if they were told "you open your mouth Butterflylady Oct 2021 #17
Because their lives as they know them are compromised and at risk KPN Oct 2021 #27
Message auto-removed Name removed Oct 2021 #37
Yes or someone close to Trump PatSeg Oct 2021 #10
I pray for their life, most likely they're gonna be targeted uponit7771 Oct 2021 #30
The "monitor only" instruction came from WHOM??????????? DFW Oct 2021 #8
Subpoena the station coordinator and find out where s/he got instructions from. This is 'telephone' ancianita Oct 2021 #11
When proven the order came from tfg, nothing will happen n/t hibbing Oct 2021 #12
I refuse to make a decision over the orders given at this time however cstanleytech Oct 2021 #14
I wonder if this order makes sense for a large crowd out by the monument. NH Ethylene Oct 2021 #15
orders from the top llashram Oct 2021 #16
Trump and co. wanted to allow chaos to occur. Mad_Machine76 Oct 2021 #20
They thought there would be counter-protestors obamanut2012 Oct 2021 #23
Seems like most -- if not all -- problems/violence was at the Capitol, under the Capitol Police. Hoyt Oct 2021 #21
is this really that complicated? who manages the park police? cadoman Oct 2021 #22
The same thing happened during the Nazi invasion of Charlottesville. Martin68 Oct 2021 #24
Doesn't sound that out of the ordinary Hav Oct 2021 #28
agree with this... Takket Oct 2021 #32
Seconding this. a reasonable and tactically sound response. stopdiggin Oct 2021 #35
The passive language by the reporter is glaringly irresponsible lostnfound Oct 2021 #29
It was completely obvious in real time. You can't pick your nose in fed buildings lindysalsagal Oct 2021 #33
Arrest all traitor Republicans who betrayed America Champp Oct 2021 #36

UpInArms

(51,252 posts)
2. Until trump is locked away from society for life
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 09:42 AM
Oct 2021

and those who supported this understand how awful he is, we are going to have terrible troubles

Response to UpInArms (Reply #2)

Botany

(70,289 posts)
25. other stand down orders (1/4/21) before these orders the D.C. National Guard could have ....
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 12:01 PM
Oct 2021

responded to the rioters attack on the Nation's capitol and our democracy on their own. After losing the
election Trump fired the Sec. of Defense and installed Christopher Miller.


lostnfound

(16,138 posts)
31. Debating with a friend: was this memo to prevent armed sympathizers in NG?
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 01:06 PM
Oct 2021

Reads like an order to stand down to me. But a perpetually optimistic friend says it was reasonable to 1) not provoke heightened tension with larger force or 2) not enable an armed contingent of national guard insurrection-sympathizers to have easy access

My thoughts are 1) they never care about attacking BLM and antiwar protestors with everything they’ve got and 2) are there that many people in the national guard whose loyalty to insurrectionists supersedes their commitments against insubordination?

Baitball Blogger

(46,573 posts)
9. If so, why are so many being quiet about it?
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 10:27 AM
Oct 2021

It's been nine months. Someone would have leaked how this happened,

jaxexpat

(6,701 posts)
13. Those with credible info, in the loop, are also the ones who were in on it?
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 10:39 AM
Oct 2021

Why does wearing a uniform seem to change the wearer's perspective of elemental justice? And also, maybe these "officers" need a different line of work.

Butterflylady

(3,523 posts)
17. Not if they were told "you open your mouth
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 11:13 AM
Oct 2021

The consequences will be fatal." Heck we all know rump has mob mentality.

KPN

(15,585 posts)
27. Because their lives as they know them are compromised and at risk
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 12:19 PM
Oct 2021

from their own actions and complicity … and they know it. The whole frigging Repug Party knows it. …. And the are counting on the Dems to not have the backbone and will to prosecute with vengeance.

Response to Baitball Blogger (Reply #9)

PatSeg

(46,791 posts)
10. Yes or someone close to Trump
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 10:29 AM
Oct 2021

The person who gave the order undoubtedly was only following orders. I still can't believe what that monster has gotten away with.

DFW

(54,050 posts)
8. The "monitor only" instruction came from WHOM???????????
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 10:24 AM
Oct 2021

I'm not talking about who passed it on down the chain of command. With whom did it originate?

THAT is the person who needs about 72 hours of straight, sleepless interrogation.

ancianita

(35,812 posts)
11. Subpoena the station coordinator and find out where s/he got instructions from. This is 'telephone'
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 10:33 AM
Oct 2021

investigating, obviously.

While the coordinator testifies, they should be made to submit documents that confirm what they say they were ordered to "coordinate" that day and who ordered them.

cstanleytech

(26,080 posts)
14. I refuse to make a decision over the orders given at this time however
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 10:40 AM
Oct 2021

if someone here with experience in law enforcement and dealing with large crowds would chime in over the orders given it would be appreciated.
As for what I would want to know is if the orders given were likely the correct ones for the right reason or the wrong ones for the wrong reason when dealing with issues such as this.

NH Ethylene

(30,793 posts)
15. I wonder if this order makes sense for a large crowd out by the monument.
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 10:45 AM
Oct 2021

But clearly does not make sense for a crowd chanting 'hang Pense' and breaking into the Capitol Building.

obamanut2012

(25,906 posts)
23. They thought there would be counter-protestors
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 11:47 AM
Oct 2021

Chaos would happen, and they would have a "legal" reason to declare martial law or something. Counter protestors knew something like this would happen, and stayed home.

I think lack of counter protestors and Pence listening to Quayle scuttled their coup plans.

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
21. Seems like most -- if not all -- problems/violence was at the Capitol, under the Capitol Police.
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 11:33 AM
Oct 2021

cadoman

(792 posts)
22. is this really that complicated? who manages the park police?
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 11:38 AM
Oct 2021
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Park_Police#Leadership

It says here Pamela Smith does. So put her on the stand and ask questions. Maybe she just made an honest mistake given the facts on the ground at the time. Maybe she was somehow pressured or coerced. Or maybe she was in on the insurrection attempt.

I do wonder how the officers were instructed to interpret "major issues". We literally have a mob of armed white supremacist insurrectionists and that's not a major issue??

Hav

(5,969 posts)
28. Doesn't sound that out of the ordinary
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 12:44 PM
Oct 2021

The article's title is about the police being overwhelmed. They were seriously outnumbered and needed to wait for other forces to come in. It doesn't sound too crazy to avoid steps that could escalate an explosive situation even more when you don't have the manpower to handle it.

People are too fast in my opinion to act as if they willingly let a coup happen. It's worth it to read more of that article to get a feeling for how hectic it was. The mentioned quotes in the OP were before everything turned to shit.

Takket

(21,424 posts)
32. agree with this...
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 01:09 PM
Oct 2021

i don't find it all that surprising that police would be told not to aggressively try to disperse a crowd especially when they are severely outnumbered.

That wasn't the problem here.

The problem was, why were they outnumbered to begin with? I remember journalists who cover Washington and protests their entire careers musing after the terrorist attack that they had seen great police presence for even the most mundane gatherings and protests that presented no real threat.

The police were intentionally left woefully understaffed based on established norms and the threat assessment of that day. surely those orders filtered their way down from above. We already knew drumpf and his cronies were putting pressure on congresspersons and even the vice president to "stop the steal" and not certify. It doesn't take a great leap of logic to conclude that drumpf would have, having failed to sway Pence to commit a coup, wanted the protestors to stop Biden from being certified so the country would be thrown into chaos and he could complete his coup and remain president.

The jan 6 commission's duty is to untangle ever call, email, correspondence of any kind. drumpf is not talking directly to the police and telling them to let the capitol attack happen. that isn't how it works in the mob. you imply something to your top lieutenants who talk to their guys who talk to their guys and then it gets down on the ground.

The other half of all this is the response to the attack. when the police were begging for help that didn't come for hours. Same thing. what are the normal procedures, and who decided to let that small undermanned for at the capital be hung out to dry.

stopdiggin

(11,091 posts)
35. Seconding this. a reasonable and tactically sound response.
Sun Oct 3, 2021, 03:50 AM
Oct 2021

with the numbers at hand, there was little that the LE on site could do in a practical sense.

And we probably should keep in mind that a considered and conscious decision (made in consensus with political, security and LE leaders) led to show of force having been taken off the table before the protesters ever arrived .. probably in response to misgivings about earlier heavy handed tactics in the Capital. Did this turn out to be seriously and almost fatally misguided? Sure did. But, at the same time - not all of it stemmed from nefarious plotting and purpose.

lostnfound

(16,138 posts)
29. The passive language by the reporter is glaringly irresponsible
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 12:47 PM
Oct 2021

If they were unable to identify the voice they should state so.

lindysalsagal

(20,440 posts)
33. It was completely obvious in real time. You can't pick your nose in fed buildings
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 01:12 PM
Oct 2021

without someone asking you to keep your hands still. I knew they were gone and ignoring the crowds. I'm guessing it was 2 people away from tgf. No more than that. They couldn't afford to use regular channels for such an order.

Champp

(2,114 posts)
36. Arrest all traitor Republicans who betrayed America
Sun Oct 3, 2021, 05:30 AM
Oct 2021

#LockUpTraitorRepublicans now going viral all over the cosmos.

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