Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced on Monday that flags would be flown at half-staff on all public buildings until Wednesday in honor of a U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) Officer who was killed during riots last week.
U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick died on January 7 after he was injured during riots in the Capitol building. A group of pro-Trump protesters rushed and breached the Capitol building on Wednesday in order to impede the certification of the results of the Electoral College.
Flags shall be flown at half-staff on all public buildings and grounds until Jan. 13, 2021. ⬇ pic.twitter.com/qRt0HIo4SL
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) January 11, 2021
Sicknick had served with the USCP since July 2008 and most recently served in the department’s First Responder’s Unit, according to the USCP. His death is currently being investigated by the USCP and its partners.
“There really aren’t enough kind words in any language to describe how sweet Brian was. He was truly a lovely, humble soul. We are missing him terribly,” his family said in a statement. “…He loved his job with the U.S. Capitol Police, and was very passionate about it. He also had an incredible work ethic. He was very serious about showing up to work on time and refused to call out sick unless absolutely necessary. Our loss of Brian will leave a large hole in our hearts.”
Sicknick was among five people who died during the protest. In addition to Sicknick, one rioter was shot and three others had medical emergencies during the protest.
DeWine slammed the riots last week, saying that they are “an embarrassment to our country.”
“As a nation of laws, this is simply not acceptable. Lawlessness is not acceptable. This is an affront to our Constitution and everything we hold dear,” DeWine said in a statement last week. “Those who breached the Capitol breached the Constitution. Peaceful demonstrations outside the Capitol are an exercise of the demonstrators’ First Amendment rights. Stopping the constitutional process by which we elect the president is not.”
DeWine said the flags will be flown at half-mast until January 13.
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Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Ohio Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair.
Photo “Ohio Flag” by Jeff Kubina. CC BY-SA 2.0.
