The U.S. Capitol Police will be led by Assistant Chief Sean Gallagher on an acting basis while a search continues for a new permanent leader, the department confirmed Monday. Gallagher’s appointment by the Capitol Police Board comes after Chief Thomas Manger retired last month after about four years on the job. Gallagher is seen by some in the department as a strong contender for the permanent position after having held a variety of roles within the department over the past two decades.
Gallagher, who oversees uniformed operations as one of three assistant chiefs, has been with the department since 2001. He has previously served as the assistant commander of the Investigations Division and as the assistant commander of the Dignitary Protection Division and the Capitol Division. The move comes amid a leadership transition at the department, which has faced scrutiny over its security protocols following the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack.
Capitol Police employees and even some on Capitol Hill with oversight responsibilities over the department were unclear Monday morning about who Manger’s temporary successor was, stoking some confusion about who was at the helm of the department. Two people granted anonymity described the decision to POLITICO before the department confirmed the appointment. The decision highlights the importance of maintaining clear leadership in the face of public scrutiny and the need for transparent communication within the agency.
The job of choosing Manger’s long-term replacement will fall to the Capitol Police Board, composed of House Sergeant-at-Arms William McFar, Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Jennifer Hemingway, and Architect of the Capitol Thomas Austin. All three came to their positions during Manger’s tenure, and this will be their first time working together in a search for the top Capitol Police official. Top congressional leaders choose the board members and are expected to have some influence in the pick. The board’s role in the selection process may reflect the political dynamics within Congress and the desire to align the agency’s leadership with legislative priorities.
“If they pick someone from the inside, they’re going to know what our mission is,” Manger said in a recent interview before leaving the department. “They’ll have that — that’s good. If they pick somebody from the outside, they’re going to have to learn about our mission, the uniqueness of it, but the structure of oversight as well, and there is a learning curve there.” Manger’s remarks underscore the importance of institutional knowledge in the selection process and the potential challenges of appointing an outsider to the role.