Rep. Staneski Seeks to ‘Protect Our Police and 1st Responders’

From the Connecticut General Assembly: With the rise of assaults against law enforcements officers and first responders, State Rep. Pam Staneski (Milford & Orange) submitted testimony in support of a bill enhancing the penalties of these kinds of crimes.

The legislation, HB-6258 An Act Concerning Intimidation On Account Of Occupation As A Public Safety Employee has been co-sponsored Rep. Staneski. The bill would include within the offense of intimidation based on bigotry or bias the act of a person intimidating or harassing another person because such other person is a police officer, firefighter or emergency medical technician.

Rep. Pam Staneski said, “This bill will make it a hate crime to intimidate a first responder and provide support and protection to those who selflessly risk their own lives to protect us. It is unfortunate that headlines of late capture more accounts of first responders who have been intentionally targeted for no other reason but their profession.”

This bill is supported by the Police Officers Associations of CT. According to the Police Officers Associations of CT, firearms-related incidents were the number one cause of death in 2016, with 64 officers shot and killed across the country. This represents a significant spike -- 56 percent – over the 41 officers killed by gunfire in 2015. Of the 64 shooting deaths of officers this year, 21 were the result of ambush-style attacks.

“By making assault on a public safety employee a hate crime, we the class of individuals would add a layer of protection to police officers who are simply performing the job that the community is asking them to do,” said Rep. Staneski.

“I am also asking that the committee include language to provide an enhanced penalty for the harassment/assault of a retired police officer, provided such officer was not engaged in behavior that could reasonably be viewed as provoking such assault, and the harasser/assaulter has direct familiarity with the officer through their active duty. I have had several retired police officers in my district who have, upon retirement, been threatened by a person where they had been the arresting officer. These men and women have dedicated their lives to the protection of others and to offer them protection from those actions taken when on active duty is the right thing to do,” said Rep. Staneski.

The bill now awaits further committee action. The Public Safety and Security Committee deadline to vote on the bill is March 16th.

Photo courtesy of the Connecticut General Assembly