TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy on Monday ordered flags lowered to half-staff in memory of fallen U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, A New Jersey native.
“If you’re out and about the state today you will notice the flags up and down the state are flying at half-mast. I have ordered our flags to be lowered in honor, in memory of United States Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick. We would normally lower the flags for someone lost in service for a day,” Murphy said. “We have made the decision, I’ve made the decision to extend this until he is laid to rest, and they’ll remain at half-staff until then.”
Murphy said Brian died last week following an assault by insurrectionists in the United States Capitol who, according to reports, pepper sprayed him before attacking him with a fire extinguisher.
A native of South River in Middlesex County, Brian was a six-year veteran of the New Jersey Air National Guard and had served two overseas deployments during his years in the guard. He was a 12-year member of the Capitol Police. He took his duty with the utmost seriousness, but also enjoyed interacting with the visitors who would come from around the world to tour our Capitol with the members and Congressional staff, regardless of party, by the way, who worked there.
“I had the honor of speaking with Brian’s dad and brothers this morning a short while ago, and to extend condolences not just from the First Lady and me, but from our entire New Jersey family. Once a New Jerseyan, always a New Jerseyan, and Brian will always be a New Jerseyan,” Murphy said.
He was honored and proud to serve. He was honored and proud to uphold the Constitution. He was honored and proud to work in the United States Capitol which is, let us not forget ever, the greatest symbol of democracy in the world. His death is rightfully being investigated as a homicide.