FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Charbonneau: Bills to protect law enforcement
officers, Hoosiers with autism sent to Governor
(STATEHOUSE) – People who knowingly and intentionally take weapons from law enforcement officers would face stiffer penalties under a bill sponsored by Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso).
House Bill 1074, which now goes to the governor for his consideration, also sets stiffer penalties for people who injure or kill a police officer with the officer’s weapon.
According to Charbonneau, penalties for intentionally taking a weapon from a law enforcement officer would increase from a Class C misdemeanor carrying a maximum 60-day jail term and $500 fine to a Class C felony with a possible two-to-eight-year jail term and a fine of up to $10,000.
The offense for injuring a law enforcement officer would increase to a Class B felony with a possible six -to-20-year jail term and $10,000 fine. If an officer is killed, the penalty would be a Class A felony with a possible 20-to-50-year jail term and $10,000 fine.
“Increasing penalties for these offenses could prevent crimes and save the lives of law enforcement officers and innocent bystanders,” Charbonneau said. “Hoosier police officers deserve the utmost protection. I am pleased laws addressing their safety could be enacted and the punishment could soon fit the crime.”
In addition, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) personnel would complete autism training under another bill sponsored by Charbonneau.
House Bill 1171 would mandate certified EMS personnel to successfully complete training on how to identify signs of autism and properly respond to those individuals. The bill has been sent to Gov. Daniels for his consideration.
Charbonneau said this training would provide a necessary tool to help provide the optimum care for Hoosiers diagnosed with autism and the safety of EMS personnel.
Training programs are designed to run about 1.5 hours and cover the range of behaviors that can be expected with individuals who have autism. Training kits include a video, hard copies of the handouts, forms with group contact information for parents and a program training DVD.
Charbonneau, a member of Indiana’s Commission on Autism, said testimony presented to the committee suggested sirens, flashing lights, loud noises and chaos can cause anxiety or confusion for people with autism. Supporters of the measure say first responders need to be aware of this to keep the person with autism calm in order to tend to the victims and maintain control of the situation.
Charbonneau said that while nearly 400,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with autism, the number of children with autism is increasing by more than 10 percent each year. Approximately one in 150 Hoosiers are diagnosed with autism.
“As the number of people with autism increases, the more likely it becomes that a medical first responder will encounter a situation where this training will prove beneficial,” Charbonneau said.
Sen. Charbonneau represents Senate District 5, which includes Starke County and portions of Porter, LaPorte, Marshall, Jasper, Pulaski, and St. Joseph counties.
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