Charleston Leader

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) recently joined nine of her Senate colleagues to introduce the Protect and Serve Act, a bipartisan legislation that would make knowingly causing or attempting to cause bodily injury to a law enforcement officer a federal crime. The bill was led by U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and was introduced ahead of Police Week, which takes place from Sunday, May 12 – Saturday, May 18.

“Every single day, our law enforcement officers in West Virginia and across the nation risk their own lives to protect and serve our communities,” Senator Capito said. “It is critical that we do all that we can to protect them in return. That is why I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Protect and Serve Act, which makes intentionally harming our men and women in blue a federal crime.”

BACKGROUND:

The Protect and Serve Act would address this problem by giving federal prosecutors the tools they need to hold accountable those who target law enforcement for assault and attacks. The Protect and Serve Act would support law enforcement officers by:

- Making it a federal crime to knowingly cause, or attempt to cause, bodily injury to a law enforcement officer. Offenders are subject to imprisonment for up to 10 years.

- Possibly charging an offender with a life sentence if a death results from the offense, or if the offense includes kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, or attempted murder.

The Protect and Serve Act has been endorsed by: The Fraternal Order of Police, Sergeant Benevolent Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, National Narcotic Officers' Associations' Coalition, and the National Association of Police Organization.

Full text of the bill is available here.

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