Capitol Police
Separate from the Washington metropolitan police, the Capitol Police protect Congress and its visitors. In 1800, Congress needed only a single guard to patrol the Capitol. By 1828, the official date of the founding of the Capitol Police, the staff had increased to three non-uniformed watchmen. By the Civil War, Capitol Police wore uniforms and badges and carried heavy canes as weapons.
As the Capitol grounds expanded, so did the Capitol police force. Officers guarded entrances, patrolled the grounds, directed traffic, and controlled crowds. At first, most police officers were appointed through patronage—they were war veterans or college students sponsored by members of Congress. In 1968, faced with a growing number of political demonstrations and civil disturbances in Washington, Congress moved to end the patronage system and create a professional police force. By the 1990s, more than 1,300 professionally trained men and women were serving as Capitol Police. Security devices, such as electronic metal detectors, were installed at the entrances to all buildings. Despite these precautions, tragedy occurred in 1998 when an armed man entered the Capitol and began firing. Two Capitol Police officers died before he could be subdued. The incident convinced members of Congress to approve construction of a Capitol Visitors’ Center, where all visitors could be screened before entering the building.
