One of the nation’s top police unions called Monday for Congress to add violence against police officers to federal hate crime laws.
The move comes as police officers are feelingly increasingly scrutinized after high-profile shootings of African-Americans and last month’s killing of two New York City police officers.
“My thoughts and prayers over the past few weeks have been with the families of officers who were, with malice and forethought, gunned down just because they served as police officers,” Chuck Canterbury, president of the National Fraternal Order of Police, said in a statement. “Enough is enough! It’s time for Congress to do something to protect the men and women who protect us.”
The union has advocated for the position in the past, it said, but is renewing its push after the recent killings.
The policy would increase penalties for those convicted of crimes if they “select their victims because they are or are perceived to be police officers,” according to the union.
I guess now we know how the GOP/Teatrolls will be wasting our time and money next.
In most states police officers are already given special consideration with assault on a police officer being a separate charge.
Totally agree, as long as unarmed black men and boys shot by police, are treated the same.
Yep, that’s exactly what I was thinking. Honestly, I don’t know how Democrats avoid voting for it and the president avoids signing off on it. I think I might be okay with it if the Democrats could leverage it to get something in return. Let’s be honest, how many people who go on cop killing sprees actually get taken down alive?
I’m just waiting for the calls from the Fraternal Order of Police, The Policeman’s Fraternal Order, Policemen United, The Order of Fraternal Police, The Sheriffs Fraternal Order, The Fraternal Order of Sheriffs, and so on and and so all asking for money to help them in a time of need and offer a sticker to put in the back window of my car implying that if you show that you gave cops money they might let you off.