Harry Dunn joined the United States Capitol Police in 2008, and since 2011 has served with the rank of Private First Class. He has been on duty for presidential inaugurations, joint sessions of Congress, State of the Union addresses as well as hundreds of peaceful protests and demonstrations. As a Crisis Intervention Officer on the USCP Crisis Negotiation Team, he is trained to respond to hostage or barricade situations and assisting individuals who may be experiencing a mental crisis.
Officer Dunn’s life was changed forever on January 6, 2021, when he bravely protected the U.S. Capitol and its lawmakers during the violent attack by insurrectionists that day. Since then, he has been outspoken about his harrowing experience, testifying in congressional hearings and speaking in the media about the violence he experienced that day and its aftermath. For his heroic efforts defending American democracy, Dunn received the Presidential Citizens Medal, the Congressional Gold Medal, the Capitol Police Service Medal, the Capitol Police Achievement Medal, the Gus Heningburg Award from the African American Chamber of Commerce in New Jersey, and the Concerned Black Men Award.
His New York Times bestselling memoir, Standing My Ground: A Capitol Officer’s Fight for Accountability and Good Trouble After January 6th provides a crucial firsthand account of what happened on that fateful and shocking day in American history and the ramifications it has on our political and legal systems, democracy, communities, and individuals. He speaks candidly about the trauma he experienced as well as the larger sociopolitical and historical significance of the events he witnessed. A prominent and essential voice, Officer Dunn shares his first-hand experience with audiences that include government groups, law enforcement, mental health professionals, colleges and universities, and community organizations.
