After trying last year, two members of the Florida delegation with a background in law enforcement--Republican U.S. Rep. John Rutherford and Democrat U.S. Rep. Val Demings--teamed up again to champion a proposal cracking down on criminals who attack law enforcement officers.
Rutherford, who served as Duval County sheriff, and Demings, who was chief of the Orlando Police Department, brought back the “Protect and Serve Act” at the end of last month and showcased the bill this week. According to Rutherford’s office, the bill creates “create federal penalties for individuals who deliberately target local, state, or federal law enforcement officers with violence” including life sentences if police officers are killed or kidnaped.
Last year, Rutherford and Demings were able to get their bill through the House but it failed in the Senate. As they made the case for it on Monday, they pointed to rising numbers of police officers killed in the line of duty in recent years.
“As a career law enforcement officer and former sheriff, I know what officers go through every day when they put on their uniform, say goodbye to their families, and go out on the streets doing the important work of protecting our communities,” said Rutherford. “That is why we are reintroducing the Protect and Serve Act, which the House passed last year with strong bipartisan support. I will keep fighting to ensure steep consequences for anyone who targets our law enforcement officers and I look forward to working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this bipartisan bill signed into law. I want to thank Congresswoman Val Demings for her leadership on this bill and for her support of law enforcement officers across the country.”
“Law enforcement officers have a tough job and it’s an extremely dangerous one,” said Demings. “I know, I did it for 27 years. Last year in Florida two sheriff’s deputies were shot and killed while they were at a restaurant, trying to grab a meal before going back on patrol. Both deputies were in their twenties. Tragically, 22 officers were shot in ambush-style attacks nationwide last year. As law enforcement officers continue to work to enforce the laws with the highest moral and ethical standards and build relationships with the communities they serve, let’s continue to work to keep them safe.”
The bill has the support of the National Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police Organizations, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the Sergeants Benevolent Association and the Major County Sheriffs of America.
Rutherford has reeled in five other cosponsors besides Demings but there is no counterpart over in the Senate. The bill was sent to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.
Comments
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It should be treated as a
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