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Golden co-sponsors Community Heroes Protection Act

Crimes Against Police and Firefighters Punishable as Hate Crimes

January 30, 2017 By John Alexander Brooklyn Daily Eagle
State Sen. Marty Golden. Eagle file photo by Paula Katinas
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New York state Sens. Marty Golden, Fred Akshar and Patrick Gallivan are sponsoring the Community Heroes Protection Act, which would designate crimes that specifically target police, firefighters and other emergency service workers as hate crimes.

The Community Heroes Protection Act was inspired by the many brave men and women in uniform who have lost their lives, were injured or targeted simply because of their jobs as protectors of the community. Researchers have found that between 2015 and 2016, there was a 68 percent increase in firearms-related fatalities among law enforcement.  This brings the total number of officers who were fatally shot in 2016 to 64.

In December, a Youngstown Ohio Firefighter was shot at the scene of a house fire. Chief John O’Neill told the media that the police were investigating the incident as a targeted shooting. This past week, 12 year-veteran firefighter Luke Jones was brutally beaten while off-duty at a nightclub in Phoenix, Arizona. Homicide investigators said the manager and bouncer of the nightclub continuously struck the already injured firefighter while he was on the ground. Jones died shortly after being dropped off at the local hospital.

According to The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, four in five medical technicians have experienced some form of injury as a result of the job. Approximately 52 percent claimed to have been injured by assault and over 20 percent said personal safety was their primary concern.

“We are living in a time where our nation is divided and crimes against first responders and police officers are on the rise,” Akshar said. “Thousands of men and women voluntarily put their uniforms on every day to protect and serve our communities in a capacity no other could, even when there are very few willing to stand up for them.”

In numerous studies across the country, it has been found that law enforcement officers are not the only first responders being violently targeted. In New York alone, areas such as Cape Vincent and Webster have seen community heroes like EMTs, firefighters and 911 dispatchers injured or killed in numerous ambush-style acts of violence.

“Many families, friends and colleagues are unjustly losing loved ones and it is our duty to offer our community heroes respect and to ensure their protection, just as they risk their lives every day to ensure ours,” Akshar continued.

Golden, a former New York City police officer, said, “Each day, our brave and dedicated law enforcement officers, firefighters, corrections officers and medical service personnel put their lives on the line for our safety. Sadly, these same individuals are being targeted with violence simply because they wear a uniform and are an officer or a first responder.

“The Community Heroes Protection Act will classify these biased attacks against our law enforcement officers and first responders as hate crimes. This will allow our prosecutors and judges to ensure that an offender receives a punishment that fits this heinous crime.”

Golden added, “As legislators, it is our obligation to help protect our law enforcement officers, firefighters, corrections officers and medical service personnel as they perform their critical duties protecting the citizens of New York state. Although there will always be danger, I am confident that the Community Heroes Protection Act will help protect New York state.”

Gallivan, a former NY State Trooper and Sheriff of Erie County said, “Police officers, firefighters and other first responders are dedicated to serving and protecting our citizens and our communities and they deserve our full support. I am deeply troubled by incidents in New York and across the country where men and women in uniform have been targeted because of who they represent, when in fact they represent all of us. By imposing stiffer penalties on those who perpetrate such crimes, we are sending a clear message that we stand with law enforcement and other emergency personnel who put their lives on the line in an effort to build safer communities for everyone.”

Assemblymember Peter Abbate said, “I’m honored to sponsor the Community Heroes Protection Act in the Assembly — it’s common sense to protect those who keep us safe every day. We need to be clear: Violence against our police officers, firefighters and first responders will not be tolerated and those who commit these vicious acts will be held accountable.”

 

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