VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — All eyes looked toward the U.S. Capitol Monday as Congress convened to certify President-elect Donald Trump’s November 2024 election.
Although the transition of power was anticipated to go smoothly this time around, that was not the case four years ago on Jan. 6, 2021, when protesters stormed the Capitol after Trump’s defeat in 2020.
The Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team helped law enforcement in Washington D.C. to ensure a peaceful certification.
This is the first time the Congressional Election Certification has been categorized as a National Special Security Event since the U.S. Secret Service took over these events in 1998, said Special Agent In-Charge Matt McCool of the USSS Washington, D.C., Field Office.
The Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office was trained in October in Maryland by the United States Capitol Police in preparation for the event.
Courtesy: VBSO
The Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office as well as other law enforcement agencies were requested for the Jan. 6 certification and Jan. 20 presidential inauguration. The lead law enforcement agency for the National Special Security Event is the United Secret Service (USSS) for both events.
“When the Capitol Police asked us to supplement its officers for these important national events, we jumped at the opportunity. Our Emergency Response Team is second to none, highly trained and highly vigilant,” said Virginia Beach Sheriff Rocky Holcomb. “We are proud to support the peaceful transition of power and showcase on a national stage the VBSO’s finest as they work alongside local, state and federal partners to keep our country safe.”
The VBSO entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Capitol Police last year to provide “law enforcement services, equipment and resources.”
Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office in the early morning hours at the Capitol preparing for the day ahead of Jan. 6 certification.
“The eyes of the world will be on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Elected officials across the country have faced a heightened threat environment in recent years, so we cannot take any chances when it comes to protecting the Members of Congress,” said Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger during a news conference Friday afternoon. “Today, our planning, our preparation, our intelligence, our training, our equipment are exactly where they need to be. This continues to be a team effort. Dozens of public safety agencies will be in Washington, D.C., over the next few days to help us keep our community and our government safe.”
During the news conference, the USSS emphasized the readiness of all law enforcement agencies involved in the upcoming NSSEs.
“The Secret Service will bring in agents and other specialists from field offices across the country to supplement our staffing,” McCool said. “A multitude of seen and unseen security measures will operate in tandem to ensure a comprehensive and seamless security plan comes to fruition.”
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