Local Capitol police officer honored with Congressional Gold Medal for bravery during Jan. 6 riot
A Capitol police officer from Coachella was among those honored with a Congressional Gold Medal for protecting lawmakers during the Jan. 6 riot.
Officer Juan Lopez was part of a ceremony honoring the officers Tuesday morning in Washington D.C. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor Congress can give.
Thank you. pic.twitter.com/R3jnYFXJvu
— The U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) December 6, 2022
Hundreds of Capitol Police Officers, D.C. Metropolitan police officers, and every agent who responded on that day each received a medal. President Joe Biden said when he signed the legislation last year that a medal will be placed at the Smithsonian museum “so all visitors can understand what happened that day.”
You can watch the full ceremony below (Courtesy of C-Span)
Lopez was one of the officers who protected Congress as thousands of protesters stormed the Capitol. Among those he protected was local Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz. Ruiz congratulated Lopez on social media.
Words can not express how incredibly proud I am of Officer Juan Lopez from Coachella who today received the Congressional Gold Medal as a Capitol Police Officer who protected me and others from insurrectionists attacks on the Capitol and our Democracy. pic.twitter.com/dQ26erHADB
— Raul Ruiz (@RepRaulRuizMD) December 6, 2022
At least nine people who were at the Capitol that day died during and after the rioting, including a woman who was shot and killed by police as she tried to break into the House chamber and three other Trump supporters who suffered medical emergencies. Two police officers died by suicide in the days that immediately followed, and a third officer, Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, collapsed and later died after one of the rioters sprayed him with a chemical. A medical examiner determined he died of natural causes.
Several months after the attack, in August 2021, the Metropolitan Police announced that two more of their officers who had responded to the insurrection had died by suicide. The circumstances that led to their deaths were unknown.
Lopez was pepper sprayed by rioters six times while defending lawmakers.
Video from inside the Capitol showed Lopez struggling to hold back the violent mob of rioters who strong-armed barricades and shattered windows as they forced their way into the building.
EXCLUSIVE: Family Speaks with News Channel 3 about Lopez's actions during the Capitol riots
Hours after the riot, Ruiz highlighted Lopez's heroism on social media, taking a photo with him in the aftermath of the riots and discussing their history together.
Ruiz has been mentoring Lopez since Lopez's senior year of high school. After Lopez graduated from the University of California, Riverside, Lopez worked for Ruiz's office.
Full Story: Rep Ruiz praises CVHS grad, now Capitol Police Officer who protected Congress Members
A few weeks after his heroic actions, his hometown city of Coachella honored him. His family accepted the recognition on his behalf as he worked 12 to 16-hour shifts daily for a short time after the riot.
