Yogananda Pittman, who beforehand served as an assistant chief, would be the first lady and first Black particular person to go the Capitol Police, in line with
Morgan State University, the traditionally black faculty that Pittman graduated from in 1999. CNN reached out to Capitol police and has not been capable of independently verify this.
“Chief Pittman is a really progressive Chief,” Sund instructed CNN on Monday. “She’s very involved as nicely concerning the welfare of the officers.”
Photos of police letting rioters via the Capitol gates, escorting them down the Capitol constructing steps and taking selfies with them, have sparked outrage amongst Black individuals.
At least five people, together with a Capitol police officer, have been killed within the mob.
Former Chief of the US Capitol Police Terrance Gainer
called the Capitol riot a failure of Capitol police.
Talking on CNN’s New Day final week, Gainer stated police have been “outnumbered,” they “underestimated their energy” and “overestimated their means to manage the gang.”
“Nobody was presupposed to get that near the doorways and home windows of the constructing,” Gainer stated, including that it should be completely investigated.
Pittman comes with a observe document of creating historical past as a Black lady in regulation enforcement. She joined the division in April 2001 and have become one of many first Black feminine supervisors to attain the rank of Captain, in line with the Capitol police
website. As captain, she managed greater than 400 officers and civilians and led the safety footprint for the 2013 presidential inauguration.
Pittman’s different assignments have included offering safety and protecting particulars for US Senators and visiting dignitaries and serving as an Inspector within the Workplace of Accountability and Enchancment.
Pittman has a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Morgan State and a Grasp’s diploma in Public Administration from Marist Faculty in Poughkeepsie, New York,
according to a statement from Morgan State.Pittman’s appointment will put her among the many few Black girls police chiefs within the nation.
In line with the Main Metropolis Chiefs Affiliation, there are 5 Black girls police chiefs main main cities together with Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams, Raleigh, North Carolina, Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown,
Louisville, Kentucky, Interim Police Chief Yvette Gentry and Dekalb County, Georgia, Police Chief Mirtha Ramos.
Juanita Holmes was named chief of patrol for the New York Metropolis Police Division final yr making her the primary Black lady to carry the put up.
A few of the girls have been among the many police chiefs who got here underneath fireplace final yr after they have been criticized for the police killings of Black males and the way they dealt with the protests of their cities.
Former Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields stepped down following the police killing of
Rayshard Brooks and former Seattle Police Chief Carmen Greatest
announced she would retire after Metropolis Council voted to
cut nearly $4 million from the police division’s funds. Former Dallas Police Chief U. Renee Corridor introduced her
resignation final September.
Outlaw, who beforehand served as Portland’s first Black feminine chief, has publicly apologized for police tear gassing protesters in Philadelphia final June, saying it was not justified. She additionally met with the household of
Walter Wallace Jr., who was killed by a police officer in October, and allowed them to overview physique cam footage of the incident earlier than releasing it to the general public.
CNN’s Peter Nickeas and Mark Morales contributed to this report.
