Vice President-electKamala Harrisreceived a special escort to the inauguration on Wednesday morning from theU.S. Capitol police officerwho helped steer rioters away from the Senate earlier this month.

Eugene Goodman, the officer seen in a viral video leadingpro-Donald Trump riotersaway from the Senate entrance during the Jan. 6 riot, personally escorted the incoming vice president and her husband,Doug Emhoff, as they arrived at the U.S. Capitol.

It was also announced Wednesday morning that Goodman would be the new acting deputy House Sergeant at Arms, the chief law enforcement and protocol officer of the House of Representatives.The New York Timesreportedthat Goodman’s new role places him as the No. 2 security official at the U.S. Capitol.

Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman.JIM LO SCALZO/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman arrives in the Crypt of the US Capitol for President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration

Goodman, 40, has been celebrated for his efforts to keep members of Congress safe during the deadly riot earlier this month. Five people, including a fellow Capitol police officer, died during the riot. Trump incited the riots with his repeated lies that the election had been “stolen” from him, and his speech beforehand during which he instructed his supporters to march over to the Capitol and “be strong,” saying, “you’ll never take back our country with weakness.”

Huffington Post reporterIgor Bobic filmed Goodmanholding off a group of the mob, as he backpedaled through the halls of the Capitol building and successfully directed the rioters away a door that led to the Senate floor. Lawmakers were reportedly still in the Senate when Goodman led the rioters in the other direction.

“He’s a hero,” Bobic told PEOPLE earlier this month.

“We really, really had a close call,” Bobic added. “A possible nightmare.”

But, Bobic said, Goodman “did a really good job of leading them away.”

Eugene Goodman.Drew Angerer/Getty

U.S. Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman arrives at the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2021

Last week, a bipartisan group of lawmakersintroduced legislationto award Goodman with the Congressional Gold Medal for the action he took during the riot.

On Wednesday, Harris, 56, will be sworn in as vice president shortly before noon local time, becoming the first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent to hold the office.

source: people.com