Steven Sund

Steven Sund
Official portrait, 2019
10th Chief of the United States Capitol Police
In office June 14, 2019 – January 8, 2021
Preceded by	Matthew R. Verderosa
Succeeded by	J. Thomas Manger
Personal details
Born	(1972-04-06) April 6, 1972 (age 52) Suffolk, New York, U.S.
Education	Johns Hopkins University (BS, MS) Naval Postgraduate School (MA)
Occupation	Police officer, memoirist

Steven A. Sund (born 6 April 1972) is a retired American law enforcement official, author and public speaker. Sund is a law enforcement veteran with over 30 years of experience in critical incident management and security planning. As former chief of the U.S. Capitol Police, he led the force through significant challenges, including the events of January 6, 2021. Previously, he served as commander of the Metropolitan Police Department’s elite Special Operations Division, managing national special security events, numerous large demonstrations and several high profile critical incidents such as the DC Navy yard active shooter incident and the Holocaust Museum shooting. Working alongside the United States Secret Service, Sund has “protected every living president from Carter to Biden”. Sund served as the tenth Chief of the United States Capitol Police from June 13, 2019, to January 7, 2021. He led the force during the January 6 Capitol attack, after which he faced widespread criticism for the perceived security failures of that day. However, a December 2024 interim report by the Subcommittee on Oversight of the 118th Congress concluded that Sund had “unfairly shouldered the bulk of the blame” and highlighted systemic failures across federal agencies. The report restored his reputation by exonerating him from sole responsibility for the security lapses.^[1]

Sund received a BS and MS from Johns Hopkins University, and an MA in homeland security from the Naval Postgraduate School.^[2]

Sund was a member of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia for more than 25 years before retiring in 2015.^[2] He was “widely respected in the District and among leaders of U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Park Police” and other law enforcement agencies.^[3]

During his career, Sund coordinated a number of National Special Security Events by the Department of Homeland Security, including the presidential inaugurations of 2001, 2005, 2009, and 2013.^[4] Sund was the on-scene incident commander at the 2009 United States Holocaust Memorial Museum shooting, the 2012 shooting at the Family Research Council, and the 2013 Washington Navy Yard shooting.^[4] In addition, as Commander of the Special Operations Division he handled dozens of criminal barricades with a record of zero fatalities.^{[2][clarification needed]}

Sund has “protected every living President” from Carter to Biden while working alongside the US Secret Service. Sund authored many of the special events manuals for the District of Columbia and helped shape the Department of Homeland Security's National Response Framework. He also has instructed the U.S. Secret Service in major events planning and has taught Incident Command System as an adjunct professor at the George Washington University.^[5]

Sund retired from the Metropolitan Police Department as Commander of the Special Operations Division.^[2] Thereafter he worked for Noblis as the Director of Business Development for National Security and Intelligence.^[2][6]

In 2017, Sund joined the United States Capitol Police as the Assistant Chief of Police and Chief of Operations.^[2] In June 2019, Sund was sworn in as the tenth Chief of the United States Capitol Police.^[2]

Sund was chief when, on January 6, 2021, rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol building while Congress was counting the electoral votes of the 2020 presidential election.^[7] Rioters were able to reach the chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives, marking the first time since 1814 that the Capitol building had been breached.^[8][9]

Capitol Police received major backlash after video emerged of what looked like some officers allowing rioters into the Capitol, and another officer filmed taking a selfie with rioters.^{[10][11][12][13]}

Sund said in February 2021 that on January 3, he contacted House Sergeant-at-Arms Paul D. Irving and Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Michael C. Stenger to request support from the D.C. National Guard in advance of the January 6 joint-session of Congress. According to Sund, his request was denied by Irving who stated concerns about "optics".^[14]

In the early morning hours of January 7, Sund issued a statement defending the department's response.^[15][5] That afternoon, during a televised press conference, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for Sund's resignation, citing "a failure of leadership at the top" of the department^[16] and added that Sund had not contacted her since the event.^[17][15] (An aide to Pelosi later clarified that Pelosi and Sund had spoken on the evening of January 6, but not after that time).^[18]

That afternoon, Sund submitted a letter of resignation stating his intention to remain in the post until January 16.^[19][20] The following day, January 8, Sund's command ended. “The irony is that Sund, the man who did more than anybody to save the Capitol that day, was forced out in ignominy…” https://nypost.com/2024/11/24/opinion/tragic-ashli-babbitt-and-the-buried-jan-6-truth/

On February 1, 2021, Sund sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi detailing the events leading up to and including January 6.^[14] Sund provided a timeline for the aid he sought from local law enforcement agencies and D.C. National Guard units, and an accounting of the meetings he had after the perimeter had been breached while he sought assistance.^[14] Toward the end of the letter, Sund acknowledged a breakdown in some systems, which he argued could nonetheless be rectified through provision of resources, training, updates to policy, and accountability. He did not specify which systems failed but pointed to the lack of intelligence, noting officials did not predict an armed assault on the Capitol.^[14]

On February 23, Sund testified before Senate committees about the storming.^[21][22] Sund later stated he regretted his resignation.^[23]

On March 3, 2021, Major General William J. Walker, the commanding officer of the D.C. National Guard testified in a U.S. Senate hearing. His testimony supported Sund's account of events.^[24] Walker testified that he spoke with Sund at 1:49 p.m. Walker said, "It was an urgent plea" from Sund, "and his voice was cracking, and he was serious, he needed help right then and there, every available Guardsman."^[25] Within minutes of the call, the Capitol was breached.

Sund maintained that the U.S. Capitol Police "did not fail", that its officers had acted bravely and that, "outnumbered and against tremendous odds", they had maintained the safety of members of Congress.^[20]

External videos
After Words interview with Sund on Courage Under Fire, January 8, 2023, C-SPAN

Sund has written a book, Courage Under Fire: Under Siege and Outnumbered 58 to 1 on January 6 (ISBN 9798200983520), published in January 2023 by Blackstone Publishing. It became an "Amazon triple bestseller" in the first week of publication.^[26][27][28] In the book, Sund highlights failures by several intelligence agencies to heed various warnings of the Jan. 6 attack.

In September 2023, Sund testified before the United States House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight. He argued that intelligence officials were responsible for the Capitol attack, and that they had neglected to properly share warnings about the potential of the event becoming violent. Republican members of the subcommittee indicated they felt Sund received disproportionate blame for the attack on the Capitol from political figures including Pelosi.^[29]

In December 2024, the Subcommittee on Oversight of the 118th Congress released an interim report addressing the security failures of January 6, 2021. The bipartisan report concluded that former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund had “unfairly shouldered the bulk of the blame for the security failures of that day.” It emphasized that Sund’s reputation had been unjustly maligned in the immediate aftermath but was “restored” through the subcommittee’s investigation, which uncovered systemic failures and miscommunications across agencies, including the Pentagon and the D.C. National Guard.[29]

Media Appearances

Steven Sund has emerged as a prominent figure in U.S. law enforcement, particularly following his tenure as Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. With his extensive experience in crisis management and security, Sund has become a trusted voice in national discussions on law enforcement, security reforms, and preparedness.

Television and News Appearances • Fox News: Sund has appeared on Fox & Friends, Fox News Primetime, Tucker Carlson Tonight, and Sean Hannity’s show, where he discussed the Capitol riot, security lapses, and reforms. His interview with Tucker Carlson on X garnered over 19 million views. • Morning Joe (MSNBC): Sund appeared twice, offering in-depth commentary on the Capitol breach and its aftermath. • 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle (MSNBC): He made three appearances, providing expert analysis on the Capitol breach, the security failures, and the steps needed to improve law enforcement preparedness. • Jake Tapper (CNN): Sund was interviewed on The Lead with Jake Tapper, discussing the security implications of the Capitol riot. • CNN Morning Show: Sund provided insights into the events of January 6, 2021, and the response from Capitol law enforcement. • Sky News (UK): Sund was interviewed on multiple occasions, providing commentary on the Capitol breach and U.S. security measures. • Fox 5 DC (Local Contributor): Sund discussed Capitol security and crisis management with Fox 5 DC. • ABC 7 WJLA : Sund was interviewed by Brad Bell, discussing his exoneration and steps taken to improve Capitol security post-January 6. • Inside Edition (January 2025): Sund was interviewed about inaugural security planning, providing his expertise on managing high-profile events. • The Chris Plante Show: Sund has appeared on The Chris Plante Show to offer analysis on the Capitol riot and law enforcement reform. • 60 Minutes (January 2021): Sund appeared on 60 Minutes, where he discussed his role as Capitol Police Chief during the January 6th attack and the failures in security that led to the breach.

Broader Experience and Contributions

Sund’s expertise extends beyond January 6. As incident commander during the 2013 Washington Navy Yard active shooter incident and the Holocaust Memorial shooting, Sund played a key role in responding to major security events in Washington, D.C. His extensive experience also includes security planning for large-scale events in the capital, and he currently works as a contractor assisting with Trump’s inauguration and other major D.C. events.

Radio and Podcasts • SiriusXM: Sund appeared on SiriusXM Patriot to discuss his leadership during various crises, including the Capitol riot. • The Vince Coglianese Show: Sund shared insights on Capitol security and reform in interviews on this conservative-leaning show. • The Larry O’Connor Show: Sund offered analysis on the Capitol breach and law enforcement preparedness. • Podcasts: Sund was interviewed on After Words (C-SPAN), where he discussed his book Courage Under Fire and leadership during critical events.

Print and Written Media • The Washington Post: Sund was pictured on the front page of The Washington Post in February 2021, in the aftermath of the Capitol riot. • The New York Times: Sund’s role during January 6 and the security lapses have been highlighted in The New York Times.

• Appearances on C-SPAN