Sen. Dan Sullivan has taken a stand to protect the nation’s public safety officers by reintroducing the Protect Our Heroes Act, legislation aimed at deterring assaults and murders of law enforcement officials. The bill also includes enhanced penalties for ambush attacks orchestrated to lure officers to specific locations. Additionally, Sen. Sullivan proudly cosponsored the National Police Week resolution, which was unanimously passed by the Senate on Tuesday.
While Sullivan was supporting police, Alaska Democrat Rep. Mary Peltola has been missing votes in Washington all week and skipped a critical vote on Thursday on a resolution expressing support for local law enforcement and condemning efforts to defund the police.
Earlier this year, Peltola voted for lower penalties for violent crime, a position too extreme for even Sen. Chuck Schumer and President Joe Biden. Last month, Peltola again voted against police officers and for emboldening criminals.
Peltola skipped the vote today so she could attend a photo op with First Lady Jill Biden in Bethel, Peltola’s hometown.
Sen. Sullivan emphasized the growing threats faced by law enforcement personnel.
In 2022 alone, 331 officers were shot in the line of duty, resulting in the tragic loss of 62 lives. These numbers represent a 32 percent increase compared to the previous year, indicating a troubling trend that demands immediate attention.
Sen. Sullivan emphasized the importance of protecting those who work tirelessly to enforce the law and ensure public safety.
“The men and women of law enforcement find themselves in precarious—often dangerous—situations when enforcing our laws, holding criminals accountable, resolving disputes, and protecting the safety of our families,” Sullivan said. “In addition to these risks, our brave public servants should not also have to fear being assaulted or ambushed in the course of performing their duties.”
The Protect Our Heroes Act aims to address this pressing issue through:
- Creation of a federal crime for assaulting or killing public safety officers.
- Implementation of a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for attempted murder, and 30 years for the murder of an officer, with the possibility of capital punishment.
- Establishment of mandatory minimum sentences for assaulting public safety officers, with heightened penalties for causing serious bodily harm.
- Introduction of severe sentencing enhancements for luring an officer into an ambush attack.
These measures, if passed by the House and signed by the president, will provide a legal framework to curb attacks on law enforcement officials and ensure that those who perpetrate such crimes face the full weight of the law.
In this year alone, 135 officers have already been shot in the line of duty, representing a 52% increase compared to the same period in 2020. Fifteen officers have lost their lives to gunfire this year. Ambush attacks have resulted in 43 officers being shot in 38 separate incidents in 2023. The numbers do not account for instances where officers were shot at but not struck.
Sen. Sullivan’s previous attempt to pass the Protect Our Heroes Act faced opposition from Senate Democrats, resulting in its failure on Sept. 17, 2020. The reintroduction of the bill presents an opportunity for bipartisan support and a chance to address the pressing need to safeguard public safety officers.
At a time when there has been an exodus of officers from the Metropolitan Police Department in the nation’s capital, Sen. Sullivan earlier this year voted in favor of House Joint Resolution 42, which repeals the anti-police law enacted by the D.C. Council. This legislative move, which was opposed by Rep. Peltola and her fellow Democrats, comes at a crucial time when record crime rates are putting immense strain on the city’s law enforcement resources.
