responded to the capitol on january 6th. and who eventually took hair own lives. d.c. police officer gunther also d.c. police officer kyle defratag died in july. howard took his own life just a few days after the riot. smith writes in her op-ed, we know that mental health can fail just like physical health. that knowledge should lead to changes in how police officer deaths and injuries are treated. my husband died protecting congress the capitol and the people of this great country as the president said thursday in the rose garden, he died protecting democracy itself. she also writes, these officers need to be recognized for the horrors they have seen and protected us from. their service needs to be respected. their families should receive the same support and assistance as every other fallen officer's family. instead we have been stigmatized, had our health insurance taken, denied even the courtesy of an official burial.