SR714: Commending Michael Fanone.
WHEREAS, Michael Fanone, a courageous and dedicated law-enforcement officer and a resident of Mount Vernon, sustained serious injuries in the line of duty while defending the United States Capitol Building from thousands of insurrectionists on January 6, 2021; and
WHEREAS, Michael Fanone grew up in Northern Virginia and graduated from Ballou High School in Washington, D.C.; he was inspired to become a police officer after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and subsequently joined the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia; and
WHEREAS, Michael Fanone typically works as a plainclothes officer with the crime suppression team, but self-deployed to the United States Capitol Building with his partner, Jimmy Albright, in response to a call for backup when participants of a rally to protest the ceremonial counting of Electoral College votes turned violent and breached the United States Capitol Building to storm congressional offices and chambers; and
WHEREAS, Michael Fanone entered the United States Capitol Building through the southern side and moved to reinforce the west entrance; he pulled another officer to safety and helped secure the doors, witnessing a scene of medieval brutality as one of approximately 30 law-enforcement officers who stood shoulder-to-shoulder and engaged in hand-to-hand combat with a surging mob of thousands; and
WHEREAS, in the course of the struggle, Michael Fanone was dragged into the crowd, where he was stripped of his badge, radio, equipment, and ammunition and beaten, struck with hard metal objects, sprayed with mace, and electrocuted repeatedly with his Taser; several members of the mob threatened to kill him with his own firearm; and
WHEREAS, Michael Fanone feared for his own life and the idea of his four daughters losing their father and began shouting that he had children, which caused the crowd to release him and his fellow officers; and
WHEREAS, after Michael Fanone’s partner pulled him back to safety, he was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for a concussion, traumatic brain injury, and a mild heart attack suffered when he was hit with Tasers; in the days following the attack, he began to experience anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder; and
WHEREAS, Michael Fanone has been left with psychological and emotional trauma from the event, and his children continue to deal with the impact of nearly losing their father in the defense of the United States Capitol; and
WHEREAS, Michael Fanone has worked to ensure his fellow law-enforcement officers receive the recognition they deserve for their selflessness and heroism in defense of the United States Capitol Building and the members of the United States Congress; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, That Michael Fanone hereby be commended for his service to the nation above and beyond the call of duty during the insurrection on January 6, 2021; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Michael Fanone as an expression of the Senate of Virginia’s admiration for his bravery and commitment to defending the democratic ideals of the Commonwealth and the United States.
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 714
Patrons-- Surovell, Barker, Bell, Boysko, Deeds, Ebbin, Edwards, Favola, Hashmi, Howell, Lewis, Locke, Lucas, Marsden, Mason, McClellan, McPike, Morrissey, Petersen, Saslaw and Spruill
WHEREAS, Michael Fanone, a courageous and dedicated law-enforcement officer and a resident of Mount Vernon, sustained serious injuries in the line of duty while defending the United States Capitol Building from thousands of insurrectionists on January 6, 2021; and
WHEREAS, Michael Fanone grew up in Northern Virginia and graduated from Ballou High School in Washington, D.C.; he was inspired to become a police officer after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and subsequently joined the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia; and
WHEREAS, Michael Fanone typically works as a plainclothes officer with the crime suppression team, but self-deployed to the United States Capitol Building with his partner, Jimmy Albright, in response to a call for backup when participants of a rally to protest the ceremonial counting of Electoral College votes turned violent and breached the United States Capitol Building to storm congressional offices and chambers; and
WHEREAS, Michael Fanone entered the United States Capitol Building through the southern side and moved to reinforce the west entrance; he pulled another officer to safety and helped secure the doors, witnessing a scene of medieval brutality as one of approximately 30 law-enforcement officers who stood shoulder-to-shoulder and engaged in hand-to-hand combat with a surging mob of thousands; and
WHEREAS, in the course of the struggle, Michael Fanone was dragged into the crowd, where he was stripped of his badge, radio, equipment, and ammunition and beaten, struck with hard metal objects, sprayed with mace, and electrocuted repeatedly with his Taser; several members of the mob threatened to kill him with his own firearm; and
WHEREAS, Michael Fanone feared for his own life and the idea of his four daughters losing their father and began shouting that he had children, which caused the crowd to release him and his fellow officers; and
WHEREAS, after Michael Fanone’s partner pulled him back to safety, he was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for a concussion, traumatic brain injury, and a mild heart attack suffered when he was hit with Tasers; in the days following the attack, he began to experience anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder; and
WHEREAS, Michael Fanone has been left with psychological and emotional trauma from the event, and his children continue to deal with the impact of nearly losing their father in the defense of the United States Capitol; and
WHEREAS, Michael Fanone has worked to ensure his fellow law-enforcement officers receive the recognition they deserve for their selflessness and heroism in defense of the United States Capitol Building and the members of the United States Congress; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, That Michael Fanone hereby be commended for his service to the nation above and beyond the call of duty during the insurrection on January 6, 2021; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Michael Fanone as an expression of the Senate of Virginia’s admiration for his bravery and commitment to defending the democratic ideals of the Commonwealth and the United States.