Ingram seeks more protection for police officers

Public Safety Commissioner Charles W. Ingram, Jr. has asked the Legislature to broaden the definition of police officers in a proposed measure amending the Commonwealth Criminal Code which shall provide penalties on criminal misconduct against police officers.

In a letter to Rep. Dino M. Jones, chair of the House Committee on Judicial and Governmental Operations, Mr. Ingram said there are other members of government agencies who are not police officers but do have law enforcement powers. These include DPS Correction Officers, firefighters, range masters, special investigators, customs officers, fish and wildlife officers, parole officers, probation officers, Office of the Public Auditor investigators and possibly Superior Court Marshals.

House Bill 12-180, otherwise known as the Police Officer and Protection Act, recognizes the hazards and dangers that the hardworking men and women face everyday while in the course of performing their duties. The Legislature finds it necessary to provide for penalties that deter criminal misconduct against police officers so that they can perform their duties and ensure the welfare and safety of the community.

” Police officers by statute are given the awesome powers of arrest, search and seizure.
They are allowed to enforce laws, protect persons and property. They are allowed to use force, including deadly force, to compel the arrest, search or seizure,” Mr. Ingram said.

The DPS chief also raised the definition of “on duty.” He emphasized that DPS lieutenants and above do not get paid overtime but they are still obligated to be on duty 24 hours a day as they keep their badge, handcuffs and firearms with them.

Even though a police officer is not on his regular shift and happens to encounter a crime in progress such as robbery and assault, etc., he is oath-bound to take appropriate action to intervene and arrest the perpetrator.

Mr. Ingram noted the case of Police Officer Tino Arriola who was “off duty” when a male confronted him with a gun. ”

Officer Arriola was shot and killed. “How are these officers covered under this bill?” he asked.

According to Mr. Ingram, security guards should be excluded from the bill. While they can make citizen’s arrest, they do not have statutory authority to make arrest nor do they have the responsibility to protect life and property. “If a situation arises where a security guard is threatened, then he must remove himself from harm’s way. He does not have the fiduciary responsibility of the police officer,” he added.