Baker Wants Tougher Laws, Penalties For Those Who Assault Police Officers
BOSTON (CBS/AP) — Gov. Charlie Baker has filed legislation to toughen laws and boost potential penalties for people charged with assaulting a police officer, a month after an Auburn officer was slain by a man with history of scuffles with law enforcement.
The legislation filed Thursday would upgrade causing serious bodily injury to an officer from a misdemeanor to a felony and boost the maximum prison time to 10 years; require judges to sentence people convicted of seriously injuring an officer to prison time and not probation; and allow judges to hold a person charged with assaulting on officer without bail if appropriate.
Auburn Officer Ronald Tarentino Jr. was shot and killed during a May 22 traffic stop by a man with a lengthy criminal record that included assaults on police.
Baker told WBZ-TV he hopes the legislation sends a message to people.
"If you get into a fight with a police officer there are going to be consequences for that," he said. "Police officers put themselves at risk every single day and we should respect that."
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