This week the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) endorsed Sen. Pat Toomey’s (R-Pa.) introducing in the Senate the counterpart to The Thin Blue Line Act introduced in the House by Rep. Jolly, David W (R-Fla.) in February.
Both bills would make murdering a police officer, firefighter or first responder killed in federal jurisdiction an aggravating factor in federal death penalty decisions in an effort to serve as a greater deterrent to acts of violence against first responders of any kind.
"Some purport to support law enforcement and others lead,” said FLEOA President Jon Adler. “Over the past few years, Senator Toomey has led on many law enforcement issues and continues to do so with the Thin Blue Line Act. Recently law enforcement has been targeted by anti-police rhetoric and it’s time we send a message that an attack on any law enforcement officer will be severely punished."
FLEOA urged swift passage of Toomey’s bill.
Jolly’s has also been supported by the Major County Sheriffs Association (MCSA) and the National Association of Police Organizations.
“This legislation would make the murder of law enforcement officers, firefighters and other first responders an aggravating factor in capital punishment determinations,” said MCSA President Donny Youngblood, adding that, “The targeting of law enforcement officers is unconscionable and those who commit such heinous acts should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Youngblood said in 2014,118 officers died in the line of duty, noting that, “This tragic statistic represents approximately one officer death every three days.”
