Dec. 18, 2015
HARRISBURG – The House today unanimously approved legislation by Rep. Scott Petri (R-Bucks) that would guard police officers, other public safety officials and their families against targeted attacks.
House Bill 824 would prohibit anyone from publicly posting, displaying or otherwise providing the home address, telephone number or email address of a public safety official or his or her spouse or children to a third party who intends to threaten or harm them. Petri’s bill would also make it a crime for a person, business or association to solicit, sell or trade this information on the Internet with intent to harm.
“Increasingly, we are seeing our law enforcement officers and other public safety officials become the targets of violent crimes,” said Petri. “These acts threaten the peace and stability in our communities. We are fortunate to have dedicated law enforcement officers who will put their lives on the line every day to protect us and we must do what we can to ensure their safety and that of their family members. By withholding basic personal information, my bill would help to insulate our public safety officials from those who intend to harm them.”
Under Petri’s bill, any federal, state and municipal law enforcement official would be covered, as would firefighters, sheriffs, judges, attorneys general, public defenders, district justices, private detectives, those working in a correctional facility or members of a child protection team to name just a few. Violations would result in a third-degree misdemeanor, carrying a penalty of up to one year in prison and/or a fine of up to $2,500. If the violation results in bodily injury, it becomes a first-degree misdemeanor, carrying a fine up to $10,000 and up to five years in prison.
“Pennsylvania has now taken a lead with this first step of ensuring law enforcement officers’ private information is protected,” said Don Mihalek, legislative director of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association. “Our organization initiated this bill with Rep. Petri and appreciates his efforts and that of the other co-sponsors. Now the Senate and governor must show their resolve and support for law enforcement by ensuring the rapid passage of this into law.”
Representative Scott Petri
178th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Donna Pinkham
717.260.6452
dpinkham@pahousegop.com
RepPetri.com