A controversy bill was passed by the State Senate of New York last Wednesday that classified aggravated harassment of a police officer’ as a felony,

R-Utica N.Y. Senator of the State, Joseph Griffo stated that his bill on police harassment has been misunderstood. In his Senate Bill 2402, it is considered a crime to threaten an on-duty police officer. It was not surprising that the bill is undergoing evaluation and has been lauded by police department all across the state put many are wondering if this measure would lead to a dangerous expansion of police powers.

According to Senator Griffo, Police officers are risking their lives daily in cities all over the states and on around highways that deserve every possible protection; consequently, people on the road who are disrespectful, harass them and bring about situations that cause injuries should pay a price for their actions.

Griffo added that his introduction of the bill is to justify that people in today’s society seem to lose respect needed for an officer of the Police department. It is important to stress that every time a police officer is performing his duty, citizens have to comply so that failure to do so carries a penalty.

The bill very clearly stated that it is a class-E felony to contact an officer physically with the intention of harassing, annoying, or threatening a police officer while doing his duty. The punishment is up to four years imprisonment.

The bill already passed the Senate for the third time but Griffo still doubts its chances of passing in the Assembly. He is aware that based on the past history, it is highly unlikely that the bill will pass. But he will continue to work to modify the thing and try to work with them, because the ultimate idea is to do something that works in society’s best interest.

Many considered that the use of the term “annoy” in a law give police with too broad of a scope that maybe too excessive. Many seem to echo the dissenting sentiment of Richard Mack who is former Arizona sheriff and gun rights speaker who asked if the state of New York is really working to pass a law that would make you a felon if you annoy a cop. Is the thinking of New York going to the right direction?

Griffo opines that society does not understand the true purpose of the bill applies to the term of harming physically or harassing, or annoying a person of authority. He is planning to change the wordings of the bill if and when this version failed passing the Assembly. He assumes that using different words would lead to the same objective.

Police officers on the job must be protected as the history of police abuses of power has many worried that the wording of this bill may understood as the used of  “annoying” officers is already considered a cause for arrest.  It is hoped that Griffo can re-edit the bill to accomplish its important purpose of averting the abuse of people who were elected to protect and serve the community while they cling to their motto of service.

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Source: Policy Mic Com

(https://www.policymic.com/articles/48005/joseph-griffo-proposed-new-york-bill-makes-annoying-police-a-felony)

Source: Rt. Com

(https://rt.com/usa/us-police-harrassment-crime-308/)