No, the Capitol Police Department hasn’t begun cloning officers to bulk up its force.

It just looks that way — at least when officers Doug Luckel and Garrett Luckel are on duty.

The identical twins, both rookie officers, often get double takes from tourists, as well as Members and Capitol Hill staff.

“It really shocks them,” said Doug Luckel, explaining that direction-seeking tourists are often confused when they encounter both brothers in the same building. “I have to explain to them I have a twin brother on the force. A lot of people don’t even believe me.”

While the Luckels aren’t the only twins among the department’s 1,600 officers, their proximity at work likely makes them more visible to passers-by.

Both are assigned to the law enforcement agency’s House Division; Garrett Luckel has a permanent post in the Cannon House Office Building, while Doug Luckel is on roving duty.

Although the 25-year-old brothers attended Charles County Community College together — the pair graduated with identical grade-point averages — both said they hadn’t planned to continue in the same career field.

“It fell into place,” said Garrett Luckel, who noted that both he and his brother enjoy a job working with the public. “We like to help people out and this job is perfect for it.”

And the decision seems to have worked out well. Doug Luckel noted: “We’ve been together since day one. It just feels natural for us to stick together in the same career field.”

In fact, one of the few times the Waldorf, Md., natives have separated came during the eight- to 10-week training course each Capitol Police officer is required to complete at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers in Glynco, Ga.

Delayed by the completion of required medical tests, the younger Luckel remained behind while Garrett Luckel embarked on his training.

“That was the first time we split apart,” recalled Garrett Luckel.

Doug Luckel began his training a short time later — graduating two classes behind his older brother — but admits he did get a preview of the experience from his twin.

“He let me know what to expect as far as training,” Doug Luckel said.

After earning their badges, the brothers note that they continue to benefit from a shared pool of knowledge.

“We’re more versatile and diverse because anything he’s picked up … and anything I’ve picked up on the House side, we share between the both of us,” said Garrett Luckel. “I know what he knows and he knows what I know.”

Although they didn’t originally intend to share a career, both brothers now have their sights set on the same goal as they look to progress through the ranks and into one of the department’s specialized units, the Containment and Emergency Response Team.

“We both have the same interests,” said Doug Luckel.