Some members of Pa. delegation say Capitol security must increase after attack

With a security review of the Capitol already underway following the Jan. 6 insurrection, some members of Pennsylvania’s delegation are weighing in on what they would like to see happen in the wake of yet another deadly attack.

On Friday, the Capitol was attacked for the second time this year when a driver rammed his car into two Capitol Police officers, killing one and injuring another. The fallen officer is William Evans, an 18-year veteran of the force. The driver was fatally shot after emerging from the car wielding a knife.

The incident marks the second time a Capitol officer has died defending the Capitol this year. The first was Brian Sicknick, who was assaulted during the Jan. 6 attack and died the next day.

The attack came just over a week after officials removed a perimeter fence topped with razor wire that had been placed around the complex after the Jan. 6 riot and reopened the streets surrounding the Capitol to vehicle traffic. But U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, a Forest Hills Democrat, said he is not in favor of having the fence put back up.

“This is the people’s house. This is the United States. We don’t make our Capitol look like an armed fortress,” Doyle said Monday. “I think that there’s an element of risk when you work in Washington, D.C., there’s an element of risk when you work in New York City and any major urban area. For that matter, anywhere in the world. Squirrel Hill is one of the safest neighborhoods in the city of Pittsburgh, right?

“I would venture to say if you polled staff and members of Congress that it would be in the high 90% (in favor) to take all those barriers down.”

But Doyle indicated he strongly believes the Capitol Police force needs to be beefed up. He said what happened Jan. 6 proved they need better equipment.

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, a Republican from Butler, agreed more needs to be done to support the Capitol Police.

“We mourn the loss of Officer William Evans and are grateful that Officer Ken Shaver survived and is out of the hospital,” Kelly said in a statement. “This tragedy illustrates that law enforcement officers selflessly and at great risk protect our communities. The thin blue line between order and chaos is real, and we must ensure the Capitol Police have the support they need to keep the Capitol safe as they have done so well for nearly two centuries.”

Kelly’s fellow Republican, Sen. Pat Toomey, called the officers who were ambushed Friday “heroes.” However, Toomey said through a spokesperson that with investigations of the attack from law enforcement and congressional committees likely ongoing, he believes it’s too early to comment on additional security at the Capitol complex.

Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat, said Congress must balance security and public access at the Capitol.

“The events of the past three months have raised concerns about the security of the Capitol complex, and we must continue to seek and implement solutions that appropriately balance constituent access with necessary security measures,” Casey said. “We have an obligation to protect the thousands of Americans who visit and work in the Capitol complex every day — including Capitol Police officers who risk their lives to protect us — while ensuring that the Capitol remains publicly accessible as an important symbol of our democracy.”

Rep. John Joyce, an Altoona Republican, agreed with Casey.

“As we move forward, Congress must prioritize Americans’ rightful access to the people’s house along with the security of the Capitol and the safety of law enforcement, members of Congress, staff and visitors,” Joyce said. “I support a truly bipartisan investigation into Capitol security needs and will continue to advocate for solutions that ensure the people’s access to the seat of our democracy.”

For his part, Doyle said he is not afraid to return to the Capitol when Congress’ Easter break ends next week.

“If you remember on Jan. 6, we went right back in after the insurrection,” Doyle said. “We went back in the Capitol, and we finished our work. The session will start (April 13), and it will be just like any other week. So, it doesn’t bother me at all. I don’t feel unsafe.”

Editor’s note: The sentence about the death of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick was updated on April 7. He died the day after the Jan. 6 attack, not during the attack.