WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) in introducing the Protect and Serve Act, legislation to create federal penalties for individuals who deliberately target local, state, or federal law enforcement officers with violence.
“Any attack against police officers is unacceptable, but fringe activists and violent rioters have increasingly made them a target. We cannot allow that to continue, and there needs to be serious consequences to prevent it from happening,” said Senator Cramer. “The Protect and Serve Act sends our men and women in uniform a clear message of unequivocal support and lets them know the United States will always back the blue.”
The Protect and Serve Act would make it a federal crime to knowingly cause, or attempt to cause, serious bodily injury to a law enforcement officer. Offenders are subject to imprisonment for up to 10 years. This law would apply to federal law enforcement officers as well as state and local officers in circumstances where the federal government can establish jurisdiction over the case.
In 2021, 14 officers have been killed by others in the line of duty, including Capitol Hill Police Officer Brian David Sicknick who was killed as a result of the attack against the U.S. Capitol.
The Protect and Serve Act is endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, National Association of Police Organizations, Sergeants Benevolent Association (NYPD), Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, National Sheriffs Association, North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police, Major Cities Chiefs Association, and the Major County Sheriffs Association.
Senators Cramer and Tillis are joined on the bill by Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Richard Burr (R-NC), Rick Scott (R-FL), John Boozman (R-AR), Mike Braun (R-IN), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Steve Daines (R-MT), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Thune (R-SD), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Tom Cotton (R-AR), and Susan Collins (R-ME).