State Senator Chris Elliott has introduced legislation that would allow for harsher penalties against those who commit acts of violence against a law enforcement officer.
“Every day, our law enforcement officers risk their lives to serve and protect Alabamians,” Elliott said. “It’s vital that we do everything we can to ensure their safety and to punish, to the fullest extent of the law, those who target them. This bill extends that justice even further, and hits even harder, the criminals who attempt to do harm to police officers and sheriffs.”
Senate Bill 36, which was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration, aims to add law enforcement service to the list of protected classes under the Alabama Constitution. Under current law, crimes committed against a person that are motivated by the victim’s race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity or physical or mental disability, are subject to heightened criminal penalties for perpetrators.
Elliott’s bill comes in the wake of the death of Sean Tudor, 30, a Mobile police officer who was shot in late January of this year.
“We must honor the sacrifice of Officer Tudor and others who have lost their lives in the line of duty, and ensure that these crimes never happen again,” Elliott said. “That goal starts with punishing, to the greatest possible degree, those who commit violence against law enforcement officers.”
Baldwin County Sheriff Hoss Mack commended Senator Elliott for sponsoring the legislation.
“We are immensely grateful for Senator Elliott’s support of our law enforcement officers,” Mack commented on Tuesday afternoon. “Our community is deeply saddened by the loss of Officer Tudor. Senator Elliott and I have been closely working together on this plan to bring greater justice to criminals who target police officers and sheriffs, and I urge the Alabama Legislature to pass this much-needed bill.”
