Chemung County Legislator Rodney J. Strange announced his strong support for a new proposed state law called the Community Heroes Protection Act that State Senator Fred Akshar is sponsoring in the New York State Senate.
“I am proud support Sen. Fred Akshar’s bill in the state senate that will make penalties for crimes against our First Responders much tougher than they currently are,” Strange said “We cannot allow those who protect us, save us and serve us to be attacked, injured and even killed because they are doing their job for our communities. Our Law Enforcement, Firefighters and EMT’s must be protected from such heinous crimes and criminal acts and should not have to fear for their lives while doing their jobs. I urge everyone in our state to join me in support for this critical legislation.”
The Community Heroes Protection Act classifies all crimes against first responders, such as law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel as hate crimes. These offenses are designated as hate crimes only if they are intentionally aimed at first responders based on the profile of their career.
In current law, when a person is convicted of a hate crime and the specified offense is a misdemeanor or a class C, D or E felony, the hate crime shall be deemed to be one category higher than the specified offense or one category higher than the offense level applicable to the defendant`s conviction. Police officers and first responders are not included in the current definition of a hate crime.
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% increase in firearms related fatalities among law enforcement. This brings the total number of officers who were fatally shot in 2016 to sixty-four.
Senator Fred Akshar (R-C-I, Colvesville) said, “We are living in a time where our nation is divided and crimes against first responders and police officers are on the rise. 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.”