Thomas Manger, the chief of Capitol Police, testified on Wednesday that over 700 threats were made against members of Congress in just one month. At least 50 of these cases involved people calling 911 to try to get police to come to their homes. This is called “swatting.”

Manger, the new police chief who took over after the attack on Jan. 6, said that the department has done an admirable job of enhancing security at the Capitol Building in the past few years. However, it needs more officers and funding to ensure the safety of lawmakers when they return home or attend offsite events.

Manger said that the division responsible for protecting congressional leaders wherever they travel, was “worefully understaffed.”

“We provide protection at the necessary level.” Manger explained that officers work double shifts, and they average… 50 overtime hours per pay period.

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Manger demanded that the division responsible for protecting leadership, which currently has about 250 officers in it, be increased to at least 500.

Manger stated that “not only can we protect the leadership 24/7 but we can also provide temporary security details when people are threatened and we need to do so.” “Because we are robbing Peter in order to pay Paul,” said Manger. We are removing someone from another detail in order to set up a new detail that will help someone with a temporary situation.

He testified that there are many situations where USCP could protect legislators better if it had more officers, both on and outside Capitol Hill. USCP, for example, needs more agents than the 20 it has now to investigate threats against members.

Woman killed in Georgia

Since years, threats against legislators have increased. However, the consequences are becoming more severe. A woman was killed this week in Georgia after an email falsely claiming that there was a terrorist bomb at Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s home in Georgia.

Manger stated during the hearing of the Senate Rules Committee, that the USCP needs to increase its spending to allow it to continue to hold 12 classes of 25 officers per year for the next several years.

Manger called it “shameful”, because it was too low.

“We had people who were in their prime at that age, and they had to go. You know, i’ve managed to convince the Capitol Police Board that it will extend the retirement age to 60. Manger added, “I’ve talked to several officers in the past month who have reached 60 years of age and they’ve said ‘Chief I don’t wanna go’.” “They look like 35-year-olds, but they can still perform the job physically and mentally. They’re the best police officers you could ever work with.” “But I can’t hold them on.”