2 Capitol Police officers cope with the trauma of Jan. 6 attack with art

ARLINGTON, Va. (7News) – Reporter's notebook: On Jan. 6 protests turned violent at the U.S. Capitol. Two Capitol Police officers attacked during the riots are now speaking out about how their passion for art is helping them cope with and heal from the chaos at the Capitol.

For any artist, the space where form and feeling take shape serves as a sanctuary from the noise cluttering our lives.

“And I can just not really worry about the rest of the world," says artist Morgan Archer. "When I’m at work I have to worry a little bit more."

For Morgan Archer, a trained graphic artist, and Winston Pingeon, an accomplished painter, this protective cocoon — be it along a sun-soaked river or inside a cozy studio — provides the shelter necessary from 9-to-5 jobs that are hardly routine. Both Archer and Pingeon are U.S. Capitol Police officers.

“Some people are surprised to know that I’m also a police officer," Pingeon says.

His calming watercolor landscapes and Archer’s intimate photo-realistic colored pencil portraits stand in stark contrast to their work in law enforcement and the day that changed everything.

“On Jan. 6, I was assigned to our civil disturbance unit in full riot gear," says Pingeon.

When a barbaric surge pushed deep into our nation’s seat of law or order, Officer Pingeon and Officer Archer stood their ground.

“My squad was one of the first squads on the West Front so as soon as those people took the stairs they were faced with us," Archer says. "We were that line to stop them.”

Someone hit her with bear spray.

“It almost incapacitated me," she says. "I couldn’t breathe. I actually had one of my co-workers pull me up the steps because I almost passed out from not being able to breathe through it.

They hit Officer Pingeon with even more.

“I was punched in the face, and beaten, pepper sprayed," he says. "Tried to be stabbed with flagpoles. January 6 was just one of the saddest and most traumatic moments in my career and perhaps my life, too."

Months later, Officer Pingeon began creating striking images: His fellow officers defending democracy in the face of impending danger, the weeping Peace Monument nestled between the Capitol and barbed wire fencing, along with two self-portraits. One is Officer Pingeon donned in riot gear only hours after the insurrection ended, bewildered and grateful to be alive and one is him saluting in his ceremonial uniform two weeks later on Inauguration Day.

“It was a traumatic day for myself and a lot of my fellow officers and so to try and capture some of that sadness and grief and put it into my art work has been really important to me," Officer Pingeon says.

Officer Archer also poured herself into her craft showcasing how different creatures connect with each other and how maybe we can learn from them.

“It helps me balance myself and ground myself because I need it," says Officer Archer. When it comes to her art, “I want people when they look at my stuff to feel something.”

These artists credit the quiet comfort of their respective studios with helping them heal from a domestic uprising that continues to haunt and shape a nation.

“My intention is not to make a political statement at all," Officer Pingeon says. "It’s just to tell my story and share my experience.

From the US Capitol Police in terms of the help officers are receiving post January 6:

The Department uses the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services of the House of Representatives. Following the events of January 6th and April 2nd, the Department worked with House EAP to secure trauma informed counselors, who have clinical experiences with first responders.

The Department immediately engaged with the House and Senate EAPs to provide mental health support for our workforce. The House EAP contracted to bring in trauma informed counselors to support our workforce. Additionally, the Department facilitated offers of peer support from over 20 first responder agencies. And now we are launching our own peer support program!

Mental trauma is very common in the aftermath of a traumatic, violent experience, including the attack officers experienced January 6. Understanding the significant impact such an experience has on individuals, the Department has worked tirelessly to ensure its officers and their families have access to the resources they need.

UPDATE: Since our initial interview with Winston Pingeon, he has decided to change careers. He now works in sales for a tech company. Pingeon tells 7News On Your Side that January 6 did not play a role in him leaving law enforcement as he had been exploring the idea of changing jobs for about the last year. But he says "...that day perhaps hastened my departure."

To see more of their art, Morgan Archer's Instagram page is @marcher_art while Winston Pingeon's work can be found @winstonwatercolors.