Pa. Fraternal Order of Police supports Burns’ Blue Lives Matter legislation
Effort to make assault on police officers a hate crime gets major boost
Rep. Frank Burns July 27, 2016 | 12:12 PM
EBENSBURG, July 27 – The 40,000-strong Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police has thrown its support behind state Rep. Frank Burns’ bill that would make assaulting law enforcement officers a hate crime, an endorsement Burns hopes will help propel the legislation to swift passage.
In a letter to Burns, Joseph Regan, legislative committee chairman of the FOP’s Pennsylvania State Lodge, wrote, “Law enforcement officers risk their lives daily so the people of this commonwealth can enjoy peace and security. They deserve the highest level of protection from targeted acts of violence the law can provide.”
In addition to voicing appreciation for Burns’ H.B. 2261, Regan noted, “The legislation will give law enforcement officers, as well as corrections officers at state or county institutions, additional protections under the state’s ‘hate crimes’ statute by raising the penalties for such heinous crimes.”
Burns said he welcomes the unequivocal backing of the state FOP, a respected and bipartisan organization whose members deserve to have their employment status treated the same as ethnic intimidation.
“This FOP support is a major boost for my bill, which is currently before the House Judiciary Committee,” Burns said. “We need to send a clear signal that assaults or attacks on law enforcement officers will draw the highest of penalties in Pennsylvania, and I’m proud to carry this legislative ball forward for our police, corrections, probation and parole officers.”