The U.S. House of Representatives approved four bills last week that would take steps to enhance protections for law enforcement officers through stricter penalties, additional resources and improved collaboration with local communities.
The Protect and Serve Act, H.R. 5698, aims to prevent attacks on offices by establishing new federal penalties for deliberate attacks or attempts to injure officers. Supporters of the bill cite a 250 percent increase in police ambush deaths in 2016.
The Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Correctional Officer Self Protection Act, H.R. 613, would require federal prisons to provide on-site storage for the personal firearms of correctional officers while on duty. The bill is named in honor of a correctional officer who was shot and killed while driving home from a shift.
The Justice Serve Act, H.R. 4854, would enable the U.S. Department of Justice to provide grants to state and local governments to better identify criminal through DNA testing and reduce the current backlog of untested DNA evidence.
House Resolution 285, meanwhile, reiterates the importance of improving communication and collaboration between police agencies and the community they serve.
The brave men and women in blue who dedicate their lives to protecting our families and nation deserve our unyielding support,” U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY), a supporter of all four bills, said. “We are indebted to their selfless work, and I’m proud to help pass legislation that better protects our officers and strengthens the resources they have to do their jobs.”