JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Rep. Justin Hill has pre-filed legislation that adds to a growing number of law enforcement protection bills filed in the House this session.
HB 302 will add stricter punishments to criminals who target law enforcement officers, including an automatic rating of the crime as a class A felony and a revocation of possible parole rights before ten years of imprisonment. The bill will also establish a “Blue Alert” system, a system like the Amber Alert meant to help facilitate and speed the capture of those who harm law enforcement officers. The legislation also creates a Blue Alert Oversight Committee within the Department of Public Safety that will determine the procedures for such a system.
Hill, a former law enforcement veteran of 13 years, says the new provisions are aimed dissuading people from harming police officers.
“I hope this bill will send a strong message that there is zero tolerance for assaulting our law enforcement officers and that all of us are now on watch for those that watch over us,” he said in a statement.
Hill filed the legislation in honor of Ballwin Police Officer Michael Flamion who was shot and paralyzed in a targeted shooting in July.
July also saw the Dallas shooting attack which killed five police officers and injured nine others. Those attacks and others have led to a surge in bills promising stricter punishments for those who attack members of law enforcement. Rep. Shamed Dogan, R-Ballwin, has also filed a “Blue Alert” system bill, which was promoted by Gov.-elect Eric Greitens. Reps. Marsha Haefner, R-Oakville, and Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon, each have a bill designed to add the targeted attacking of a police officer to the list of hate crimes.
The outpouring of efforts by the legislature could indicate early action by the General Assembly after priorities like labor and tort reform are addressed. Hill is optimistic that his legislation will make it into law.
“After working in law enforcement for several years, I have worked every watch: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. I like to refer to the those of us watching over our law enforcement officers as the 4th watch and invite other legislators and the public to join.”
