Stop Massachusetts from giving the middle finger to victims of police violence

With the recent shooting of police officers and civilians in Dallas fresh in our mind, Governor Baker is trying to rush through a knee-jerk response.  Bill H.4440 would increase penalties for assault on a police officer, allow pretrial commitment after a finding of dangerousness, and impose a mandatory minimum of one year’s imprisonment in the case of serious injury an the officer.

The Joint Committee on the Judiciary will hold a hearing on this bill tomorrow, Wednesday at 9am in Hearing Room A-2 at the State House in Boston. Thanks to Matthew K, Maya S. and Alex M for bringing this to our attention.

Besides H.4440, the committee will also consider H.4466 which is even worse.  With H.4466, assault on a police officer would carry an automatic minimum term of five years. Assault, under the law, need not cause any injury; it merely has to create a “reasonable fear of harm” in the mind of the officer. There have been many cases of people participating in protests being charged with “assault” merely for coming into involuntary physical contact with an officer (this is a notable recent case). Assault on a police officer is often based merely on the officer’s word, and officers’ word, like anyone’s word, can’t always be trusted. Should a police officer break his hand while punching a handcuffed protester, it it wouldn’t surprise us to see an extra five years added to the protester’s sentence.

No one should harm a police officer, just as no one should harm any citizen or resident, but this bill would put police, who truth be told are given vast deference by the courts and prosecutors, above citizens and residents.

We need your help opposing these bills. If you can, please drop in on the hearing and speak against it.  If you cannot, please contact the Chairs and Vice-Chairs, and if possible, other committee members and tell them we don’t need these bills.

Thank you!