Phillip D. Morse Sr. took over as the newest chief of the U.S. Capitol Police this week.
He came from relative obscurity, as a 20-year-plus veteran of the force, and now leads the front line of defense for the seat of the world’s oldest democratic republic.
He will head up a force of some 1,300 well-trained officers with a budget of nearly $250 million. He’s charged with protecting the Capitol while keeping “the people’s house” free from burdensome security.
It’s a Herculean labor that is required of 43-year-old Morse.
The Capitol Police have been battered by outraged lawmakers over the agency’s budget, abandoned by dozens of rank-and-file for more glamorous or better-paying jobs and embarrassed by a series of security lapses.
Last month, then-acting chief Christopher McGaffin had to explain to a group of angry Congressman how an armed, shirtless man made it all the way to the House Flag Office before being tackled by office workers.
It didn’t soothe congressional nerves when McGaffin admitted that part of the reason so few officers were standing by was that up to a third of the force was off on acquired leave.
The department has since canceled leave for its brass and has reassigned officers from roving patrols and duties in the House and Senate office buildings to the Capitol grounds, a source said.
Around the same time McGaffin was offering his explanation, a befuddled tourist wandered into the Capitol grounds — and was stopped by construction workers.
Rank-and-file have publicly wished Morse well in the new job, but privately many say they don’t know whether Morse will be able to stand up to Congress and defend the beleaguered agency.
“Chief Morris deserves to have a fair opportunity to see if he can be independent and manage the police department,” Fraternal Order of Police president Lou Cannon said. “But it’s tough to be independent with 535 bosses.”
Through his spokeswoman, Morse declined comment for this story.
