About the Book
On January 6, 2021, for the first time since the War of 1812, the US Capitol came under siege. Blood was spilled in the halls of Congress, marking one of the darkest days in American history and testing the courage of those defending it. Courage Under Fire, named to honor the bravery of Capitol defenders, is former US Capitol Police Chief Steven A. Sund's firsthand account of the events leading up to and during that attack.
Chief Sund's narrative delivers a gripping, minute-by-minute account of the brutal assault as law enforcement officers--outnumbered fifty-eight to one--fought valiantly to defend the Capitol against an enraged mob. Despite Sund's repeated pleas for assistance, the National Guard was delayed due to political hesitation, arriving only after the Capitol had been secured. Officers were assaulted with pipes, flagpoles, boards, makeshift weapons, bear spray, and other chemical irritants. Pipe bombs were discovered near the DNC and RNC, which Sund viewed as diversionary tactics designed to distract and escalate the chaos.
Law enforcement faced intense and immediate criticism from the media and members of Congress in the charged, post-George Floyd, "Defund the Police" climate, with little recognition of Sund's efforts to regain control of the Capitol. Despite his repeated requests for reinforcements and decisive actions, Sund was subjected to immense pressure and ultimately forced to resign. Meanwhile, Congress, led by those responsible for key decisions that left the Capitol vulnerable before and during the attack, impeached a sitting president.
Ironically, while Sund was forced to resign, Congress's direct role in the Capitol's vulnerability was ignored. The leaders at the Pentagon who stalled the National Guard were lauded as heroes, while the real heroes--Sund and his officers--were left to bear the blame for the chaos they were forced to confront.
As one of only ten men to serve as chief of the US Capitol Police, Sund details his command decisions, the intelligence failures that left his officers exposed, and the obstacles he encountered in securing National Guard support. His account, validated by journalists and congressional reviews, presents a clear, factual recounting of the crisis--not a political exposé. Sund's story highlights the unprecedented challenges his officers faced, their courage, and the lingering questions about why the Capitol was left so vulnerable on that fateful day.
About the Author :
Steven A. Sund was the tenth Chief of Police for the United States Capitol Police from June 13, 2019, until January 8, 2021. Before joining the United States Capitol Police in 2017, Sund had a twenty-five-year law enforcement career working for the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC, where he rose in the ranks from patrol officer to commander of the elite Special Operations Division (SOD). As commander, he led planning for numerous high-level security events, including four presidential inaugurations, and oversaw a number of specialized units, including the Emergency Response Team (SWAT), Special Events/Dignitary Protection Branch, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit (Bomb Squad), and many others.
Chief Sund is a recognized expert in critical incident management and active shooter preparedness and response. His experience includes being the on-scene incident commander on the 2009 shooting at the National Holocaust Museum, the 2012 shooting at the Family Research Council, and the 2013 active shooter incident at the Washington Navy Yard. In addition, he has handled dozens of criminal barricade and hostage situations. Due to his knowledge and experience, Sund served as an instructor with the United States Secret Service in the area of major events planning and has taught the Incident Command System (ICS) at George Washington University. He received his bachelor of science and master of science degrees from Johns Hopkins University and a master of arts in Homeland Security from the Naval Postgraduate School. He also completed the Police Executive Research Forum's Senior Management Institute for Police and the FBI's National Executive Institute. Courage Under Fire is his first book.
Steven A. Sund was the tenth Chief of Police for the United States Capitol Police from June 13, 2019, until January 8, 2021. Before joining the United States Capitol Police in 2017, Sund had a twenty-five-year law enforcement career working for the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC, where he rose in the ranks from patrol officer to commander of the elite Special Operations Division (SOD). As commander, he led planning for numerous high-level security events, including four presidential inaugurations, and oversaw a number of specialized units, including the Emergency Response Team (SWAT), Special Events/Dignitary Protection Branch, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit (Bomb Squad), and many others.
Chief Sund is a recognized expert in critical incident management and active shooter preparedness and response. His experience includes being the on-scene incident commander on the 2009 shooting at the National Holocaust Museum, the 2012 shooting at the Family Research Council, and the 2013 active shooter incident at the Washington Navy Yard. In addition, he has handled dozens of criminal barricade and hostage situations. Due to his knowledge and experience, Sund served as an instructor with the United States Secret Service in the area of major events planning and has taught the Incident Command System (ICS) at George Washington University. He received his bachelor of science and master of science degrees from Johns Hopkins University and a master of arts in Homeland Security from the Naval Postgraduate School. He also completed the Police Executive Research Forum's Senior Management Institute for Police and the FBI's National Executive Institute. Courage Under Fire is his first book.
Review :
"I'm so saddened by every word he said--what an extraordinary hero and true patriot."
-- "Stephanie Ruhle, host of The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle"
"This book should be the definitive after-action of January 6."
-- "Congressman Barry Loudermilk, Chairman of the House Administration Jan 6, 2021, Oversight Committee "
"If you wanted to understand what happened on January 6, 2021, at the US Capitol, one of the first people you'd talk to...would be Steven Sund."
-- "Tucker Carlson"
"Reads like Black Hawk Down at the US Capitol."
-- "Don Winslow"
