UNDATED (WTAQ) – A state lawmaker in northeast Wisconsin wants to make targeting law enforcement officers a hate crime.
Wisconsin State Rep. David Steffen (R-Howard) has scheduled a news conference on Monday morning at the Brown County Sheriff’s Office to announce his initiative.
“Every day our police officers place themselves in harm’s way in order to protect and serve our communities,” Steffen said in a news release. “Over the past several weeks I have been working on the ‘Blue Lives Matter’ initiative which works to protect those who protect us. I strongly believe that anyone who targets these brave men and women, solely because of their profession, should face serious penalties. This legislation sends a clear message that the despicable attacks we’ve seen against officers throughout the country will not be tolerated in Wisconsin.”
The bill will be modeled after a similar law passed earlier this year in Louisiana.
Sheriff’s officials say they will also provide comments at the Monday news conference.
