Larkin Co-Sponsored Bills To Increase Penalties For Violence Against Members Of The Military & Law Enforcement Pass Senate

Senator Bill Larkin (R,C,I-39^th District) is pleased to announce that the State Senate today passed legislation to further protect the men and women who protect our communities from violent criminals. The bills, which he co-sponsors, strengthen penalties to help prevent members of the military and law enforcement from being targeted and assaulted while performing their important work.

“Anytime you put on a uniform, whether it’s police or national guard, you take on the risk that you could get injured or seriously hurt serving your community,” said Senator Larkin. “These bills will help to reduce the risk of our men and women in uniform becoming targets of a violent crime, while ensuring that any assault on them will be met with the highest level of punishment the law allows.”

Senator Larkin noted that the Senate was taking action during May, a time when the nation commemorates both Military Appreciation Month, as well as National Police Week, which begins on May 15^th.

“Both bills show our commitment to those who are committed to serving our local communities and defending our nation,” said Senator Larkin. “It would be a fitting tribute if both these bills were passed in the Assembly and signed into law by the Governor in May, a month dedicated to honoring our soldiers and law enforcement official.”         

The bills would provide greater protections for New York’s men and women in uniform by:

(S4379A) Creating a new crime for those who assault members of the military or reserves. Similar to the protections afforded to police officers, firefighters, peace officers and emergency medical technicians, the bill would create a Class C felony for those found guilty of targeting and assaulting members of the military and reserves to prevent them from working to protect the public.

(S1457) Increasing the penalties for certain violent offenses involving police or peace officers. The measure addresses the risks consistently violent felons pose to the public by authorizing a sentence of life without parole when a criminal commits an aggravated assault on a police or peace officer and has previously been convicted of two violent felonies that are classified as Class B or greater.

The bills will now be sent to the Assembly for consideration.