January 6 Capitol Police plaque quietly installed at U.S. Capitol after years of delay

A long-delayed commemorative plaque honoring the law enforcement officers who defended the U.S. Capitol during the January 6, 2021 attack has finally been installed.

The plaque appeared early Saturday morning inside the U.S. Capitol near an entrance on the building’s West Front. Its installation came quietly, without a ceremony or public remarks, despite federal law requiring the memorial to be placed by 2023.

The plaque recognizes the officers who responded when a mob supportive of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol in an effort to disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election.

The inscription reads: “On behalf of a grateful Congress, this plaque honors the extraordinary individuals who bravely protected and defended this symbol of democracy on January 6, 2021. Their heroism will never be forgotten.”

The memorial lists several federal and local law enforcement agencies that responded to the attack. A QR code displayed next to the plaque links to a digital file containing the names of officers who were present that day.

The plaque has been placed at the end of a hallway just inside a West Front entrance of the Capitol, an area that is not open to the public.

Its installation follows years of political disagreement over how and where to display the memorial. The law directing the plaque’s creation required it to be placed on the western front of the Capitol.

Two officers who defended the Capitol during the attack — former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn and Metropolitan Police officer Daniel Hodges — filed a lawsuit last year seeking to force the installation of a memorial. Hodges said on social media the plaque is “a fine stopgap,” but noted the legal case continues as officials push for full compliance with the law.

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