Archived News

DC dispatch: Jan. 19

Capitol Police and National Guardsmen stand before a checkpoint on Washington, D.C.'s South Capitol Street on Jan. 19. Capitol Police and National Guardsmen stand before a checkpoint on Washington, D.C.'s South Capitol Street on Jan. 19. Jeffrey Delannoy photo

First it was 10,000. Then, 15,000. Then, 20,000. Now, they say, there are 25,000 National Guard troops in this city of 700,000, or about one for every 28 residents.

And it looks like it, too – in full battle rattle, congregating with rifles near checkpoints or standing stony-faced behind miles of fence cordoning off the Capitol complex, stopping cars and searching trunks, waiting for signs of trouble while watching high cirrus clouds make their way across the deep blue sky.

They’re supplemented by all manner of federal law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Park Police, Secret Service and Border Patrol agents.

Then there’s the U.S. Capitol Police, their black-banded badges a testament to one of their own who died from injuries sustained during the Jan. 6 insurrection and to another who took his own life shortly after responding to the deadly riot.

Right now, Washington, D.C. could be the safest place on earth, or the most dangerous. It’s hard to say.

Even with all that in mind, brief conversations with law enforcement through the palisade reveals them to be, well, pretty darn friendly, all things considered.

Related Items

There’s the D.C. cop from Rhode Island, talking about the Pawtucket Red Sox. Another, from New York, talked about how much he loved visiting Chicago last summer. Another, pounding Red Bull. A Guardsman from South Carolina who said she was cold and couldn’t wait to get back home as she pawed the rifle slung over her shoulder.

“At least, they’re feeding us good,” she said. “They’ve been feeding us real good.”

SMN Politics Editor Cory Vaillancourt and photographer Jeffrey Delannoy will report from Washington, D.C., all this week. Check back for more through Jan. 23.

Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.