Senate Passes Bill Making the Harassment of a Police Officer a Crime
“Our system of laws is established to protect the foundations of our society,” Senator Griffo said. “Police officers who risk their lives every day in our cities and on our highways deserve every possible protection, and those who treat them with disrespect, harass them and create situations that can lead to injuries deserve to pay a price for their actions.”
The bill establishes this crime as a Class E Felony, punishable by up to four years in prison.
“At a time when shocking incidents of disrespect and outright confrontation are at an all-time high, the men and women who patrol the streets of our cities deserve every possible protection we can offer them,” Senator Griffo stated. “My bill would make it a crime to take any type of physical action to try to intimidate a police officer. This is a necessary action because we can see from the rise in incidents that too many people in our society have lost the respect they need to have for a police officer. We need to make it very clear that when a police officer is performing his duty, every citizen needs to comply and that refusal to comply carries a penalty.”
“Professionally, I am grateful to see this bill pass through the Senate. Our police officers have a very dangerous job and need the support of our government leaders to help make them safe,” said Utica Police Department Chief Mark Williams. “All too often persons are physically challenging police officers in the line of duty. Currently in those instances where an officer is physically attack (short of sustaining a physical injury) the lawful charge is only a violation. The consequences are way too low for the offender and it sends the wrong message to the public. Police officers are the public’s first line of defense to restore order in dangerous/chaotic situations. Citizens do not have the legal right to physically challenge the authority of an officer lawfully performing their duties. Threats, intimidation and physical force used upon our police officers not only erode respect for our criminal justice system, but also endanger the public as well.
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Read it again.
" Police officers are the public’s first line of defense to restore order in dangerous/chaotic situations. Citizens do not have the legal right to physically challenge the authority of an officer lawfully performing their duties."
I wonder how Jose Guerrena or Kelly Thomas or any of the other people taken out by overzealous police would feel about this?
Much talk in the article about "respect". You earn respect. It works both ways.
I thought I was hearing about the Germans in the 30s and early 40s while reading this article. It's the same mindset that allowed the Gestapo, the SA and the SS to come into existence.
Thanks, David.
Stay safe.
6 comments:
This is indeed pretty scary Blue. I too was reminded of Germany back in the day.
Who decides what is "lawfully performing their duties".The police themselves?Aren't we lucky that all police officers are angels who only have our best interests at heart.
All well said, but all we do is log on, blog on, surf and petition. It’s much too late in the day for that, it has been for a long time now. We are going to internet ourselves right into the barrel end of a firing squad and shallow ditch.
"lawfully performing their duties"
I like that... we need more of that and fewer Bullies with Badges.
Anyone breaking the law is a criminal and doing it in uniform is a violation of the public trust as well. Penalties for lawbreaking 'public servants' should be double that of civilians.
I am reminded of the black kid holding a puppy who gave a cop a 'dehumanizing look' and gotta beat down for it. Eff the police.
NY is about to become an official a "police state;" unless you are police or a friend of police, your first, second, fourth, and fifth amendments are now at the mercy of a uniformed thug's delicate sensibilities.
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