A package of bills introduced in Lansing would increase penalties for crimes committed against police officers, firefighters, and paramedics.
Supporters of the bills said we’re in a time when people are frustrated, and some people target emergency responders to communicate their frustration. They said it’s important that these workers feel safe.
Democratic representative and police officer Jewell Jones opposes the bills. He said he doesn’t think the measure is necessary to keep officers safe.
“By creating this new class of felonies, it would basically create a new class of victims, and so some of the laws that are already in place that you can pin on people as far as attacking a police officer or firefighter, emergency service personnel, you can get them for assault right now.”
Jones said it’s important to not politicize certain issues. He said the focus should be on protecting over penalizing.
The bills would add as much as two years to a sentence if the crime was committed against an officer, firefighter, or paramedic.
Republican representative and ex firefighter Jeff Yaroch introduced the bills. He said even off duty workers are under attack.
“Police officers who were off duty that people were Facebook stalking them, an individual that they had arrested, and said I’m coming to your house, and I’m going to you know I’m going to come after your family or whatever and going after them off duty. So I definitely think though that’s targeting and it’s just not appropriate in this society.”
The bills passed the state House and are on their way to the Senate.