Thin Blue Line Act Cleared For Full House Vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Prosecutors wishing to seek the death penalty for convicted cop killers may soon find it easier in federal cases. The Thin Blue Line Act cleared the U.S. House Judiciary Commission Thursday 19-12.

The bill, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, is intended to make the murder or attempted murder of a police officer, firefighter or first responder an “aggravating” factor in death penalty determinations. That essentially means it would be easier to seek the death penalty in these cases.

“We owe a great debt to police officers and first responders across the country,” Buchanan, a Repubican from the Sarasota area, said following Thursday’s vote. “Attacks against law enforcement officers must end. The strong committee vote today sends a clear message to those who target police – you will be held accountable.”

Get the Patch newsletter and alerts in your inbox.

According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, there were 144 line-of-duty deaths in 2016 across the United States. Of that number, 63 involved shootings, three were attributed to assaults and one to a stabbing incident. The numbers represent a 56 percent spike nationally in fatal shootings, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Buchanan noted in a Wednesday statement. The number of ambush-style killings rose by 167 percent in 2016, he added, citing information from the National Association of Police Organizations.

“The legislation would be applicable whether the person is murdered on duty, because of the performance of their duty, or because of their status as a public official,” a statement from Buchanan’s office said. The legislation is meant to cover all levels of first responders, at the local, state and federal level. The only requirement is that the homicide must involve federal jurisdiction. That means the murder must take place on federal land, during a joint task force operation or during other similar circumstances.

Thursday’s vote came in the wake of 41 law enforcement deaths in 2017 so far. Fourteen of those deaths involved shootings, including the highly publicized death of Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton.

Clayton, 42, was a 17-year veteran of the Orlando Police Department. She was gunned downed after police say she encountered Markeith Loyd, 41, at a Walmart store off John Young Parkway on Jan. 9. Clayton was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, but the mother of one, succumbed to her injuries.

Loyd had been a wanted fugitive since Dec. 13, 2016, when he was accused of killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon, 24, and wounding her brother.

Buchanan’s bill was introduced shortly after Clayton’s death.

“Every day, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers around the country protect their fellow citizens from harm, keep the peace, and carry out justice,” House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte said during the April 27 committee hearing. “As they serve and protect us, we have a duty to ensure they have the tools needed to do their jobs and that our laws honor their sacrifices. I thank Congressman Vern Buchanan for his work on the Thin Blue Line Act. This bill ensures criminals who murder law enforcement officers face justice for their crimes.”

Buchanan’s bill is expected to come up for a full House vote sometime in May. How soon, if at all, the measure might make it to President Donald Trump’s desk remains unclear. The Senate has yet to introduce a companion bill.

Image via Shutterstock