Jeffrey L. Smith was a DC police officer who responded to the insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6. 

Savagely beaten by two insurrectionists, he suffered traumatic brain injuries.

On the day he was set to return to duty, Smith shot himself due to the injuries he suffered in the line of duty.

Dr. Jonathan Arden, the former Chief Medical Examiner of the District of Columbia was hired by Smith's widow as part of her lawsuit to have her husband's suicide ruled "in the line of duty". His report stated that the "acute, precipitating event that caused the death of Officer Smith was his occupational exposure to the traumatic events he suffered on January 6, 2021.”

Yet even now, neither DC Mayor Muriel Bowser nor the DC police department have done the right thing and declared his death, “in the line of duty.” Doing so would provide much-needed benefits and assistance to Smith’s survivors.

Please join me in demanding that Muriel Bowser take immediate action to help his widow by declaring his death in the line of duty.

It is time we recognize that acute trauma can and does lead to suicide. The least we can do is to honor and assist those hurt by this tragic event.