Throughout National Police Week, people acknowledge the incredible service and sacrifices police officers and supporting personnel make each day for their fellow Americans. On May 15, National Peace Officers Memorial Day, President Donald Trump gave address that said, “Today…Every American heart bleeds blue.” Congress acted upon the sentiment Wednesday by voting 382-35 to pass the Protect and Serve Act.
Co-sponsored by Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (VA-10), the bill will enforce further protection on law enforcement officers who often come in harms way by protecting lives, liberty, and property.
According to a press release from Comstock’s office, she said:
“Our men and women in blue risk their lives every day so that our communities remain safe. Criminals who target law enforcement officers must be punished for their crimes. I cosponsored and voted for the bipartisan Protect and Serve Act, legislation that will create federal penalties for criminals who knowingly target federal, state, or local law enforcement officers with violence. This week is National Police Week, and today we honor our law enforcement community by passing this legislation.”
The Protect and Serve Act will heighten federal punishments for people who, “knowingly causes serious bodily injury to a law enforcement officer, or attempts to do so,” the bill states. Moreover, it will also protect those who are perceived to be an officer and the punishment that would be faced is up to 10 years imprisonment.
As well, if a police officer were kidnapped, killed, or faced a threat on their life, the bill would creates a penalty of jail time for any number of years, including a life sentence.
According to CNN, the Senate also has a similar bill that would makes it a crime to knowingly cause bodily injury or attempt to do so on a law enforcement officer, “because of the actual or perceived status of the person as a law enforcement officer.” Therefore, the legal status of a law enforcement officer would be elevated to that of a “protected class,” a designation usually reserved for marginalized groups and demographics.
