| January 6 United States Capitol attack |
|---|
| Timeline • Planning |
| Background |
| Participants |
| Aftermath |
Jeffrey L. Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1985 or 1986 |
| Died | January 15, 2021 (aged 35) |
| Police career | |
| Country |  United States |
| Allegiance |  District of Columbia |
| Department |  Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia |
| Service years | 2009-2021[1] |
| Rank | Police officer |
Jeffrey L. Smith, a Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police officer, shot himself on January 15, 2021, after he assisted the United States Capitol Police on January 6, during the response to the storming of the Capitol. A psychiatrist hired by Officer Smith's widow found that drastic changes in Smith's behavior after January 6 are evidence that the attack on the Capitol was the precipitating event leading to his suicide.[2] On October 13, 2021, two United States Senators and several members of the House of Representatives called for the Mayor to award Line of Duty benefits to Officer Smith and his widow Erin Smith.[3] On March 7, 2022, Officer Smith's death was officially ruled line of duty by the District of Columbia.[4] After petition by his widow, DC Police and Firefighters' Retirement and Relief Board found that the "direct and sole" cause of Officer Smith's death were the injuries he received in the line of duty while responding to the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.[4][5]
- ^ "Opening Brief and Cover Letter" (PDF). goodwinweberlaw.com. July 30, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ Dewan, Shaila (July 30, 2021). "He Killed Himself After the Jan. 6 Riot. Did He Die in the Line of Duty?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
- ^ Leigh Ann Caldwell (October 17, 2021). "After the Jan. 6 riot, police departments confront the mental health toll of the job". NBC News. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ a b "D.C. police officer's suicide after Jan. 6 riot declared line-of-duty death". NBC News. March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- ^ Corse, Alexa (March 10, 2022). "Washington Police Officer's Post-Jan. 6 Suicide Deemed Line-of-Duty Death". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved March 20, 2022.