Heroes Behind the Badge: Capitol Police Chief Steve Sund's Story - Part II
Former U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund provides an unprecedented insider account of January 6th's security response. In this riveting episode, Chief Sund reveals the critical decisions, bureaucratic hurdles, and shocking details of how his officers defended Congress against overwhelming odds.
Key Takeaways:
- 273 Capitol Police officers faced an estimated 30,000 protesters
- The National Guard's response was delayed by 71 minutes due to "optics" concerns
- Despite being vastly outnumbered, officers maintained remarkable restraint with only one shot fired
- The Capitol was cleared within 5 hours, defying predictions of a 24-hour siege
Timestamps:
00:00:00 - Episode Introduction
00:03:44 - First Signs of Trouble
00:05:15 - Pipe Bomb Discovery
00:09:50 - National Guard Response Issues
00:14:51 - Single Shot Fired
00:20:31 - How Close Were They?
00:25:01 - Political Aftermath
Resources:
• "Courage Under Fire" by Steven Sund: https://www.amazon.com/Courage-under-Fire-Outnumbered-January-ebook/dp/B0BGJRCHM2
• Citizens Behind the Badge website: https://behindbadge.org
Guest Bio:
Steven Sund served as Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police during January 6th, 2021. With 25 years of decorated service in the Metropolitan D.C. Police and expertise in critical incident management, Sund led the Capitol Police response during one of America's most challenging moments.
Connect with Us:
Dennis Collins - Citizens Behind the Badge Board Member
Bill Erfurth - Former Miami-Dade Police Lieutenant
Craig Floyd - Founder, Citizens Behind the Badge
Related Episodes:
• Episode 1: The Lead-Up to January 6th
How a Vietnam Veteran Built America's Most Sacred Police Memorial
The story behind the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
Left for Dead: The Park Ranger Shot 9 Times Who Fired Back
"We Ride For Those Who Died" | The Police Unity Tour's Remarkable Journey
Beyond the Presidential Protection Detail - Tim McCarthy's Law Enforcement Journey - Part 2
Secret Service Agent Tim McCarthy - The Man Who Took a Bullet for President Reagan
The Healing Power of Police Week: A Family's Journey After Line-of-Duty Death
"I'm Going to Kill That Cop": A Police Officer's Final Traffic Stop
Wildlife Officer vs. Cop Killers: The Heroic Showdown That Saved Lives Behind the Badge
The Hidden Crisis: How This Former Officer Nearly Became Another Police Suicide Statistic
Shot 5 Times: A Police Officer's Survival Story
Heroes Behind the Badge: Capitol Police Chief Steve Sund's Story - Part III
Heroes Behind The Badge: Capitol Police Chief Steve Sund Story - Part 1