Eugene Goodman (police officer)

Eugene Goodman (born c. 1980) is an American law enforcement officer and U.S. Army veteran serving as the acting Deputy Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate as of January 20, 2021. He is known for his actions as an officer for the United States Capitol Police during the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, in which he diverted the rioters from the United States Senate chamber. As of January 20, 2021, there is legislation pending to award Goodman the Congressional Gold Medal.[2]

Eugene Goodman
Acting Deputy Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate
Assumed office
January 7, 2021
Sergeant at ArmsJennifer Hemingway (acting)
Preceded byJennifer Hemingway
Personal details
Bornc. 1980 (age 40–41)[1]
Military career
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service2002–2006
Rank Sergeant
Unit101st Airborne Division
Battles/warsIraq War

Early years and military service

Goodman was born circa 1980 to an African American family and raised in the southeast section of Washington, D.C.[1][3] He served from 2002 to 2006 in the United States Army, including in combat with the 101st Airborne Division in the Iraq War.[4][5] In the days after the attack on the Capitol, Goodman's former unit, the XVIII Airborne Corps, issued a statement commending his valor and saying that he "was a hero long before last Wednesday."[6]

Goodman left the military in December 2006 with the rank of sergeant. He joined the Capitol Police in 2009.[7]

Actions in the Capitol storming

On January 6, 2021, as rioters breached the United States Capitol building, Goodman, unaccompanied by other officers, confronted them. He has been cited for heroism in baiting and diverting the crowd away from the Senate chamber in the minutes before the chamber could be safely evacuated. As the crowd reached a landing from which there was an unimpeded path to the Senate chamber, Goodman pushed the lead person and then retreated away from the chamber.[1][8][9][10] One report described his actions as follows:

In short, he tricked them, willingly becoming the rabbit to their wolf pack, pulling them away from the chambers where armed officers were waiting, avoiding tragedy and saving lives. Lives which include their own.[11]

His actions have been credited with saving the lives of the Senators who, at the time, remained inside the chamber.[12]

Those present at the time of the event, including Democratic and Republican politicians and members of the press, praised Goodman for his quick thinking and brave actions.[13][14][15][16] Republican Senator Ben Sasse credited Goodman with having "single-handedly prevented untold bloodshed."[15] Jason Johnson, in an editorial published in Yahoo! News, wrote: "It is not hyperbole, exaggeration or an opening pitch of a TV movie . . . to say that Eugene Goodman saved American Democracy on Jan. 6, 2021."[16]

Goodman's actions were captured in video footage taken by HuffPost reporter Igor Bobic.[17] Bobic's footage of Goodman went viral, receiving more than 10 million views.[18][19] A second video of Goodman's encounter with the crowd was published by ProPublica on January 15, 2021.[19]

Honors
Goodman (right) with Senator Raphael Warnock

Following the storming of the Capitol, Jaime Harrison and others called for Goodman to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.[8][20] A bipartisan resolution (H.Res.305) was introduced on January 13, 2021, in the United States Congress by Representatives Charlie Crist (D-FL), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), and Nancy Mace (R-SC) to award the medal to Goodman.[21][22][23] Rep. Cleaver, the original co-sponsor of the bill,[21] wrote that "If not for the quick, decisive, and heroic actions from Officer Goodman, the tragedy of last week's insurrection could have multiplied in magnitude to levels never before seen in American history. With this prestigious award, we can show our gratitude to Officer Goodman for saving countless lives and defending our democracy".[24]

In addition, online petitions at Change.org and Care2 to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Goodman had received over 83,500 signatures as of January 21, 2021.[25] Following the event, Goodman said he was not looking for any accolades and expressed concern about potentially being targeted by extremists, but insisted that he would "do the same thing again."[1]

On January 20, 2021, Goodman escorted Kamala Harris to her inauguration as the Vice President of the United States.[26] He was announced as the acting deputy Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate; when stepping out onto the inauguration platform ahead of Harris,[27][28] he received a standing ovation and cheers.[29][30][31]

See also

References
  1. Tan, Rebecca (January 14, 2021). "A Black officer faced down a mostly White mob at the Capitol: Meet Eugene Goodman". The Washington Post.
  2. CNN, Scottie Andrew (January 15, 2021). "Lawmakers want to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Capitol Police officer who lured rioters away from the Senate chambers". CNN. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  3. Strauss, Daniel (January 20, 2021). "Kamala Harris sworn in as US's first female, Black and south Asian vice-president". The Guardian. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  4. "Hero Capitol Police officer is a 101st Airborne veteran". Military Times. January 13, 2021.
  5. Johnson, Stephon (January 14, 2021). "American Hero: Eugene Goodman defends the Capitol". New York Amsterdam News.
  6. Rahman, Khaleda (January 14, 2021). "Eugene Goodman, Capitol Officer Who Lured Mob Away, Hailed by His Former Airborne Corps". Newsweek.
  7. "Video of this lone Capitol Police officer speaks volumes — even if he won't". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. January 15, 2021.
  8. Andrew, Scottie (January 12, 2021). "How a lone Capitol Police officer lured rioters away from the Senate chambers". CNN.
  9. O'Kane, Caitlin (January 12, 2021). "Black officer seen risking his life to lead Capitol mob away from the Senate chamber hailed as a hero". CBS News.
  10. Honderich, Holly (January 13, 2021). "Capitol police officer Eugene Goodman hailed as 'a hero'". BBC News.
  11. "A lone Black officer faced down violent US Capitol mob, fooled them to save lives: Reese's Final Thought". WUSA9. January 11, 2021.
  12. Bacon, John (January 11, 2021). "Capitol Police officer being hailed as a hero for drawing angry mob away from Senate floor". USA Today.
  13. "Timeline: Congressional lawmakers share 'frightening' insight into Capitol riot, how a police officer led mob away". WFAA. January 11, 2021.
  14. "'He's a Hero!': Capitol Officer Could Receive Congressional Gold Medal". NBC Washington. January 14, 2021.
  15. Sasse, Ben (January 16, 2021). "QAnon Is Destroying the GOP From Within". The Atlantic. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  16. Johnson, Jason (January 15, 2021). "Capitol officer Eugene Goodman must not fade into history — it's happened before". Yahoo! News.
  17. McLaughlin, Kelly (January 11, 2021). "Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman is being hailed as a hero for facing down an angry mob of Trump supporters and drawing them away from the Senate chamber". Business Insider.
  18. Qamar, Aysha (January 14, 2021). "He went viral for saving the Senate, but Army vet Eugene Goodman 'was a hero long before'". Daily Kos.
  19. Gillum, Jack (January 15, 2021). ""Where They Countin' the Votes?!": New Video Details Tense Moments as Capitol Mob Sought Out Lawmakers". ProPublica.
  20. Harrison, Jaime (January 10, 2021). "Jaime Harrison on Twitter: "The word hero does not appropriately describe officer Eugene Goodman. His judgment & heroism may have saved our Republic. I hope @SpeakerPelosi @SenSchumer @WhipClyburn consider him for the Congressional Medal of Honor. It is the least we can do." / Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  21. "H.R.305 – To award a Congressional Gold Medal to Officer Eugene Goodman". United States Congress. January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  22. Blitzer, Ronn (January 14, 2021). "Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman should be awarded Congressional Gold Medal, lawmakers say in resolution". Fox News. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  23. Williams, Jordan (January 14, 2021). "Lawmakers introduce bill to award Capitol Police officer Congressional Gold Medal". The Hill. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  24. Guerilus, Stephanie (January 14, 2021). "Lawmakers want to honor Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman with Congressional Gold Medal". Yahoo! News.
  25. Major, Derek (January 13, 2021). "Petition to Award Black Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman a Medal for Bravery Picking Up Steam". Black Enterprise.
  26. Cochrane, Emily (January 20, 2021). "Eugene Goodman, a Capitol Police officer who diverted the mob during the riot, is escorting Harris". The New York Times. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  27. Kamala Harris Escorted By Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman (Television production). USA: NBC News. January 20, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  28. Kaur, Harmeet (January 20, 2021). "Kamala Harris was escorted to the ceremony by the Capitol Police officer who led rioters away from Senate". CNN. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  29. "Biden inauguration: Capitol hero cop Eugene Goodman accompanies Kamala Harris". New Zealand Herald. January 20, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  30. Hawkins, Derek; Firozi, Paulina (January 20, 2021). "Capitol Police officer who faced down pro-Trump mob escorts Harris at inauguration". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  31. Officer Eugene Goodman of U.S. Capitol Police arrives at the Inauguration ceremonies, Youtube Channel 11Alive, January 20, 2021
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.