Senator Gallivan Joins Colleagues in Backing Legislation to Protect Police

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma) joined members of the Senate Minority Conference in unveiling several bills to protect and honor the brave members of law enforcement all across New York.  The "Protect Those Who Protect Us" package of legislation would also safeguard law-abiding New Yorkers against the disastrous results of so-called criminal justice “reforms.”                                                            

“Law enforcement officers face enormous challenges while on the job and recent attacks on their profession have made their work even more dangerous," Senator Gallivan said. "Too often police officers come under attack simply because they wear a badge and a uniform. We need to do more to support and protect the men and women who have dedicated their lives to keeping our fellow citizens safe. This legislation will help." 

Keynotes of the legislative package to “Protect Those Who Protect Us” in New York include:

S3463  Sponsored by Senator Gallivan, which would make it a crime to dox a police or peace officer simply because of their profession and with the intent to threaten or intimidate that police or peace officer.

S3465  Sponsored by Senator Gallivan, which would make it a crime to falsely accuse a police or peace officer of wrongdoing in the performance of their duties. This is necessary because of the repeal of Section 50-A, and would protect law enforcement against unfounded or unsubstantiated claims.

S2561  would strengthen the penalties for assaulting a police officer.

S3208  would strengthen penalties for causing a police officer to come into contact with foreign substances or objects, such as bottles, flammable liquids, etc.

A proposal by Senator Alexis Weik to Defund Municipalities that Defund the Police Act. The Director of the Division of Budget would withhold state funding to a municipality that abolishes, disbands or significantly reduces its police department. The amount of state money withheld would correspond with the percentage reduction in a police department’s budget by the municipality.

In New York City, violent crime has risen at an alarming rate over the past year, with the most recent report by the NYPD showing that overall index crime rose by 30.4 percent compared to April 2020. This rapid increase in crime was driven in part by a 35.6 percent increase in felony assault, a 28.6 percent increase in robbery, and a 166.1 percent increase in shooting incidents.

These alarming statistics follow the implementation of bail reform and discovery reform since 2019, as well as the disbanding of the NYPD’s “anti-crime” unit and $1 billion cut to New York City police funding.

"As a former Trooper and Sheriff of Erie County, I know the vast majority of officers care about the communities they serve and the rights of all law abiding citizens," Senator Gallivan said.  "They deserve our support and our appreciation, today and every day.”

Today’s legislative package also includes:

S3464  Sponsored by Senator Gallivan – Makes it a class D Felony for any person to approach or remain within 25 feet of a police officer engaged in the performance of their duties when they are ordered by an officer and they fail to do so.

S1917  Makes a crime committed against a police officer because of their status as a police officer, a hate crime.

S2034  Provides a $500,000 benefit for police officers who are seriously disabled or die from injuries incurred in the line of duty.

S2226  Makes it a class E Felony to stalk a police or peace officer, and makes the crime of stalking a police or peace officer eligible for bail.

S6231  Enhances the penalty resisting arrest from a class A misdemeanor to a class E Felony. Adds resisting arrest to the list of E Felonies where a police officer may arrest someone, instead of being required to issue an appearance ticket.

S6285  Establishes May 15th as Police Memorial Day in New York State. Requires the Governor to appear in person at the fitting ceremony at the Police Memorial Wall and to read, out loud, the names of the police officers who died during the previous year from injuries incurred in the line of duty.

S6286 Unfounded and unsubstantiated complaints against first responders; This is necessary because of the repeal of Section 50-A, and would prohibit the disclosure of personnel records with regard to unsubstantiated or unfounded complaints made against first responders.

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