A retired police officer in the nation’s capital has been convicted of lying to authorities about leaking confidential information to the leader of the Proud Boys extremist group. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson convicted former Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Shane Lamond of obstructing justice and making false statements after a trial without a jury. Sentencing is scheduled for April 3.
Lamond was charged with leaking information to former Proud Boys national chairman Enrique Tarrio, who was under investigation for the burning of a Black Lives Matter banner stolen from a historic Black church in Washington. Tarrio later pleaded guilty to charges related to the incident and was sentenced to 22 years for his role in the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol—a riot prosecutors have characterized as part of efforts to keep former President Donald Trump in power post-election.
The connection between Lamond and Tarrio began in 2019 when Lamond, who had supervised the intelligence branch of the police department’s Homeland Security Bureau, took charge of monitoring organizations such as the Proud Boys during their gatherings in Washington.
By December 2020, Tarrio was arrested just before the January 6 siege, but he wasn’t present when the Capitol was stormed. Lamond testified at trial, asserting he had never shared sensitive police details with Tarrio. Tarrio, appearing as a witness for Lamond's defense, claimed he had not confessed to Lamond about the banner burning nor received confidential police information.
Evidence presented during the trial, including messages exchanged between Lamond and Tarrio, starkly contradicted Lamond's testimony. Prosecutors pointed out instances where Lamond seemed to convey police updates and advised Tarrio about the status of warrants against him. One quoted message indicated Lamond warned Tarrio about identification requests related to his arrest warrant: "Similarly, the defendant affirmatively advised Mr. Tarrio in a written message..." prosecutors stated.
Throughout the proceedings, Lamond expressed frustration over being labeled as a Proud Boys “sympathizer” and dismissed claims he was acting as a “double agent.” He insisted, "I don't support the Proud Boys, and I’m not a Proud Boys sympathizer," positing instead he sought rapport with Tarrio strictly as a professional strategy to gather intelligence.
Justice Department prosecutor Joshua Rothstein underscored evidence indicating Lamond had offered real-time insights on the police inquiries following the December 2020 banner burning.
After over two decades of service, Lamond retired from the police department last May, as scrutiny over his actions grew stronger. His conviction marks a significant event not only for Lamond but for institutional trust as communities grapple with accountability within law enforcement, particularly concerning relationships with extremist organizations.
The broader ramifications of this case extend beyond individual accountability; it raises pressing questions about police integrity and the guiding ethics for officers who monitor and interact with controversial groups like the Proud Boys. With sentencing set for April, the legal and community reactions may help shape future dialogues around policing practices and extremist group interactions.
