BRADENTON -- Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody joined U.S. Representative Vern Buchanan at Bradenton police headquarters to endorse his legislation to toughen penalties against copkillers.
Buchanan is an author of the Thin Blue Line Act, which would make the murder or attempted murder of police or other first responders an aggravating factor in death penalty determinations.
Moody said the legislation “will provide local and state law enforcement officers the same protection and support currently provided to federal officers—acting as a deterrent to anyone who would look to harm an officer.”
The bill applies to killings of first responders involving federal jurisdiction, including interstate cases, officers killed on federal land, or while serving as part of a joint task force.
According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, 298 law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty so far this year.
Photo: U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan