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A6 U.S. NEWS
Monday 23 January 2017

Some question push for tougher penalties for attacking cops

SUMMER BALLENTINE take note of stricter punish-
Associated Press ments and be deterred by
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) them, but that it probably
— Gov. Eric Greitens is wouldn’t apply to cases of
pushing to toughen Mis- shootings of police.
souri’s already stiff penal- “The person who shoots a
ties for attacking a police cop probably didn’t look
officer, reflecting similar up the statutes to see what
efforts underway in other the penalty was,” Dixon
states and pleasing many said. “It’s a one-time deal.”
in Missouri’s law enforce- Thomas B. Harvey, co-
ment community, which founder and executive
has been on the defensive director of the St. Louis
since the police killing of an civil rights law firm ArchC-
unarmed black 18-year- ity Defenders, said people
old in Ferguson more than who attack police already
two years ago. face tough prosecution
Whether such changes and punishment in Missouri.
are needed is debatable He said the push by some
— among those who think politicians for even stiffer
they aren’t is a fellow Re- punishments amounts to
publican lawmaker and “pandering to police offi-
legal expert who helped cers and to a certain con-
craft revisions of the state’s stituency,” and that it’s po-
criminal code that just took litically difficult to oppose
effect. such positions.
“We can feel like we’re “Those folks run huge risk
doing a great thing and of being characterized
we’re really solving the as anti-police and having
problem,” said state Sen. anti-police bias,” Harvey
Bob Dixon, a leader on said. “It’s a no-risk, high-
criminal law and chair of reward type of legislation
the chamber’s committee for people. ... I don’t think
on criminal laws. “This does it meaningfully increases
not solve that problem.” In this Jan. 9, 2017, file photo, Missouri Gov.-elect Eric Greitens speaks in Jefferson City, Mo. protections for police offi-
Greitens, a former Rhodes Associated Press cers, either.”
Scholar and Navy SEAL offi- Dan Isom, a former St. Louis
cer who ran multiple cam- investigation of the depart- A Missouri conviction for ficer deaths have steadily police chief and endowed
paign ads featuring him ment. The officer wasn’t second-degree assault, in risen since then, up to 136 professor of policing and
firing large guns, pledged charged. which someone is seriously in 2016. Those figures in- community at the Univer-
during his first major policy Lawmakers in more than injured or a lethal weapon clude attacks on police as sity of Missouri-St. Louis, said
speech to help pass “the a dozen other states and is used, currently carries well as accidental deaths such policies are about
toughest laws in the coun- Congress have proposed a sentence of one day to such as car crashes. more than deterrence.
try for anyone who assaults making it a hate crime to seven years in prison or a Those pushing for stiffer “It’s important for the mo-
a peace officer,” even assault an officer. Louisi- fine. When the victim is a penalties say they could rale of police officers too
though Missouri already ana became the first state police officer, the penalty is serve as a deterrent. They for the public to say we
has harsher penalties for to enact such legislation in five to 15 years. Legislation point to an attack in Dallas value what you do, we
people who hurt cops or May, allowing prosecutors proposed by GOP state last July in which a military are supportive of what you
first responders. to seek stronger penalties Sen. Doug Libla would dou- veteran killed five officers do, we place value on
He also spoke about a “Fer- when police, firefighters ble it to 10 to 30 years or life at a protest, in what was protecting you and doing
guson effect,” which al- and emergency medi- behind bars. the deadliest day for Amer- what we can from a policy
legedly has made officers cal crews are intentionally Police deaths on the job ican law enforcement standpoint to make sure
more hesitant about per- targeted because of their have generally declined since Sept. 11, 2001. Ten that you are protected
forming their duties since professions. over the past four decades, days later, a former Marine in the work that you do,”
the 2014 killing of Michael Almost every state, includ- from a recent high of 280 in killed three Baton Rouge, Isom said. He later added:
Brown due to a fear of be- ing Missouri, already has 1974 to a low of 109 in 2013, Louisiana, police officers. “Just because some peo-
ing questioned later on. tougher penalties for as- according to the National Dixon, the Republican ple violate it doesn’t mean
Brown’s killing by a white saults or other offenses Law Enforcement Officers state senator, is skeptical we shouldn’t make it strin-
Ferguson officer sparked against police, according Memorial Fund, which about this argument. He gent, make it a priority and
months of protests and led to the National Confer- tracks officer deaths dating said criminals who repeat- hold people accountable
to a Department of Justice ence of State Legislatures. to the 18th century. But of- edly break the law might for what they do.”q