Time Sensitive! Submit Testimony to Protect New Jersey Cops
If you can't attend the hearing, please write!
Apologies for the late notice, but legislatures don’t often give a lot of notification prior to hearings.
If you’re a police officer or police supporter in New Jersey, please consider attending a public hearing occurring tomorrow (September 12) to testify in SUPPORT of New Jersey Assembly Bill 2378. It would upgrade the penalties for assaulting law enforcement officers. You also have the option of sending a letter via email.
Hearing Details
Logistics
The hearing for A2378 is being held at 1:00PM in Committee Room 16, 4th Floor, State House Annex, Trenton. Please note that the Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee has other items on the agenda for tomorrow, so there may be some waiting involved. Sorry I can’t be more specific.
If you’re unable to attend, you can submit written testimony to the Committee at the following email address: OLSAIDEALP@NJleg.org
And of course, you can always contact your state representatives to express support for this bill.
A2378 Talking Points
I submitted written testimony on behalf of the National Police Association yesterday; it contains details about the bill. You can read the official letter here and the press release here.
I’ve also condensed some talking points for you to use:
Given the sharp rise in assaults on police officers, it’s critical to pass A2378. You can mention that earlier this year, the FBI reported that assaults on officers reached a 10-year high in 2023, and that more than 79,000 officers were attacked last year alone. The number of officers shot has increased by 60% since 2018 (which includes a rise in ambush-style attacks), per data from the Fraternal Order of Police.
Officers are also being stabbed, attacked with chemical weaponry, run over by vehicles, kicked, punched, and spit on.
A couple of reports of New Jersey police officers being assaulted that you can cite include a Gloucester Township event, where an individual rode his bike into a crowd of officers, knocking one to the ground; and Galloway Township, where two officers were attacked, one slashed in the face.
The bill also includes language that would upgrade penalties for subjecting officers to bodily fluids. You can mention that bodily fluids contain serious disease-carrying pathogens like mononucleosis, influenza, and strep.
Although policing is an inherently dangerous job and officers are well aware of this when they enter the profession, officers are now being assaulted and killed in greater numbers simply because of the uniform they wear.
Police officers stand between us and chaos, selflessly place their own lives at risk for us, and enforce the laws that allow us to exist as a free nation. Assaulting an officer of the law is essentially an attack on our way of life, the citizenry, and our Constitution.
Passing A2378 would send a resounding message that attacks on the men and women of law enforcement will not be tolerated. It will also go a long way in establishing goodwill and demonstrating to officers that the people of New Jersey support them.
If you’re a police officer or supporter from New Jersey -or know anyone who is- would you kindly share this information with them?
Though what happens at the federal level does indeed affect law enforcement and public safety, state legislation is just as critical. Some states (most notably, Florida) are better at supporting their cops and protecting the citizenry than others.
I’m also encouraged by the New Jersey legislature, which has introduced several pro-police bills this past session -aside from A2378- including the Craig Tiger Act and a bill to clarify aggravated assault against an officer.
Contrast that with my own state of Wisconsin, where my proposed bill to mandate sentencing for assaulting an officer has fallen flat. (I haven’t given up.)
In any event, we have a lot of work ahead of us, that is for certain.
Keep the faith. : )
For the Blue is a solutions-based initiative. I’m just an American patriot asking questions. I don’t work with any political party and I answer to nobody. For me, the health of the nation, due process (including for police officers), the rule of law, and respect for individual liberties, will always transcend party affiliation. I welcome your thoughts, even if you disagree; though personal attacks will be ignored. You can reach me at fortheblue@substack.com.