Bomke legislation on tougher penalties for assaulting police officers passes in Senate

[March 11, 2010]  SPRINGFIELD -- On Tuesday, the Illinois Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 2488, introduced by Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield.

Senate Bill 2488, which passed out of the Senate Criminal Law Committee on Feb. 17, places tougher penalties on individuals who attempt to assault a police officer with a deadly weapon. The current charge is a misdemeanor, but the legislation would make the crime a Class 4 felony.

"I am pleased to get unanimous support for Senate Bill 2488," Bomke said. "My colleagues in the Senate share the view that we need to do a better job of punishing individuals that intend to do harm to our police officers."

The legislation will now go to the House of Representatives for review. If the legislation is signed into law, it would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2011.

[Text from file sent on behalf of Sen. Larry Bomke by Illinois Senate Republican staff]