Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 408 AMERICAN POLICE BEAT: MARCH 2017 T he vast majority of Americans have a lot of respect for people in law en- forcement and agree that anyone that assaults or kills an officer just because they’re a cop should be sub- jected to enhanced criminal penalties. But even a lot of law en- forcement officers are saying the “Blue Lives Matter” bill in Connecticut is extreme. Rep. J.P. Sredzinski, has proposed a bill that would make it a hate crime to as- sault or “verbally attack” police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians, among others. In addition to the fact that the bill does protect police officers specifically, a lot of cops are saying that any- one that can’t handle being “verbally attacked” should probably not be working in law enforcement. Sredzinski, a 911 emer- gency dispatch supervisor, says he’s heard countless tales told by officers about being attacked just because they were cops. He said he hasn’t heard of any targeted violence against local officers, however. He did bring up the 2014 killings of two New York City police officers who were ambushed while sitting in their police car. “While the law isn’t going to prevent someone who is intent on doing that kind of, basically, terrorism, I think this will send a message from the General Assembly that these first responders have families,” Sredzinski, the ranking House Republican on the Public Safety and Security Committee. He told reporters from the Associ- ated Press. “My concern is sending that message, that the state of Connecticut dis- courages any attack on our uniformed personnel.” Sredzinski’s bill is just one of many proposals to stiffen penalties and increase protections for a wide array of people including judges, corrections officers and oth- ers. As is the case in many other states, most of the Blue Lives Matter proposals are redundant as state laws already make it a felony to assault police officers and other first responders. New Haven Officer Craig Miller, president of the local police union, said he sup- ports any bill that protects cops because he believes there’s a war on cops. “The attitude is a lot differ- ent in terms of disrespecting police officers,” he said. “You get some people in the community that do hate cops. They’ll punch you. They’ll hit you. They’ll try whatever they can.” Butmanylawenforcement professionals say the “verbal assault” stuff is step too far. Being “verbally attacked” for being a trooper, deputy or police officer always has been and will continue to be something that comes with the territory. We’re not snowflakes! Cops get yelled at – it’s part of the job and always has been.