BOSTON (AP) — Two Massachusetts lawmakers want to make attacks against police officers a hate crime.
Democratic Reps. Michelle DuBois and Alan Silvia filed a bill after the fatal shooting of five officers in Dallas on Thursday.
The bill would add police officers to the list of protected classes under the state’s hate crimes law.
Silvia is a retired Fall River officer and says police deserve every protection.
DuBois says she drafted the bill after Auburn police Officer Ronald Tarentino Jr. was fatally shot during a traffic stop in May.
Louisiana is the only state right now where an attack on police is a hate crime. A lawmaker in Kentucky has introduced a similar bill there.
Massachusetts Republican Gov. Charlie Baker wants to toughen potential penalties for people charged with assaulting police.
(Copyright (c) 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)