Post by WaTcHeR on Feb 14, 2007 13:30:47 GMT -5
--AUSTIN -- Drunken drivers who injure or kill an on-duty public safety officer would face longer prison sentences under legislation filed Monday by freshman Rep. Paula Pierson of Arlington and dedicated to the memories of two Tarrant County police officers killed by alcohol-related crashes.
Pierson, a Democrat, said her first bill is named for Darren Medlin, a Grapevine police officer killed in June 2004 when he was struck by a car during a traffic stop on Texas 121, and Dwayne Freeto, a Fort Worth patrol officer who died Dec. 17 while assisting a motorist with a flat tire on Interstate 35W.
Both men were 34, military veterans and the fathers of young children.
"We need to send a message that drinking and driving has tragic consequences," Pierson said. "There are too many police officers who put their lives at risk on busy thoroughfares all over this state, and they don't need to be subjected to further danger because of drunk drivers."
Pierson's House Bill 1212 would take intoxication assault from a third-degree felony to a second-degree felony if a police officer or firefighter were injured. The prison sentence, now two to 10 years, would increase to two to 20 years. The maximum fine, $10,000, would not change.
Intoxication manslaughter involving a police officer or firefighter would go from a second-degree felony to a first-degree felony, which carries a prison sentence of five to 99 years and a maximum fine of $10,000.
Two major law-enforcement support organizations heartily endorsed the measure.
"Anytime you enhance the punishment, part of the goal is to provide a greater deterrence to the offending behavior," said Chris Heaton, executive director of the Texas Municipal Police Association. "But too often, some folks don't think about the consequences, especially in cases of addictive behavior. So this would make sure those folks are placed in a position where they can't do any further harm."
Charley Wilkison, a spokesman for the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, agreed.
"If you make the roads safer for police and firefighters, you make the roads safer for everyone," he said.
Medlin, a four-year Grapevine police veteran who had served in the Marines, was killed in the pre-dawn hours of June 12, 2004. He was run down by a Lincoln driven by Roy Alvin Adams Jr. of Bedford.
The accident was captured on videotape in the officer's car. Adams was sentenced to 12 1/2 years in prison after being convicted of intoxication manslaughter.
Freeto had served in the Fort Worth Police Department for just nine months after being discharged from the Army. His patrol car was hit by a vehicle driven by 21-year-old Samuel Lee Hilburn. Freeto's car burst into flames. Hilburn, who was charged with intoxication manslaughter, was released from custody in late January after posting $100,000 bail.
ONLINE: www.capitol.state.tx.us
ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
Tarrant County law enforcement officers who have died in the past 15 years:
Sept. 2, 1992: Fort Worth officer Brent David Wisdom, 22, was killed when he was hit by a drunken driver while assisting a motorist.
Oct. 9, 1992: Arlington patrol officers Jerry J. Crocker, 43, and Terry L. Lewis, 35, were killed when their patrol car was hit by a drunken driver in a tractor-trailer rig.
March 6, 1993: Responding to a report of shots fired, Haltom City officer Gary Cecil Hires, 48, was shot in his car by a 14-year-old with a high-power rifle.
June 27, 1993: Fort Worth Detective Donald James Manning, 28, was shot while off-duty by five gang members who tried to rob him.
Dec. 27, 1993: Fort Worth officer Alan Frederick Chick, 33, was hit by a vehicle while assisting a motorist.
Aug. 3, 1994: Arlington officer Craig Michael Hanking, 26, was killed in an accident while responding to a burglary call.
March 31, 1994: Fort Worth officer Jesse Don Moorman, 47, died of a heart attack while chasing a burglary suspect.
Sept. 17, 1997: Tarrant County sheriff's Lt. George Maurice Hendrix Jr., 51, and investigator Thomas Jay Smith, 45, died in a helicopter crash.
June 7, 2001: Arlington Cpl. Joseph Cushman, 27, was accidentally shot during training.
April 24, 2002: White Settlement police Capt. George Scott Monier, 37, was shot responding to a domestic-disturbance call involving a gun.
June 12, 2004: Grapevine officer Darren Medlin was hit by a car during a traffic stop on Texas 121.
June 18, 2004: Grand Prairie officer Gregory Hunter was killed and officer Bruce Seix wounded by a man in a parked van during a standoff in a Grand Prairie Wal-Mart parking lot.
July 29, 2004: River Oaks officer Nathan Laurie was killed in a collision while chasing a stolen pickup.
Dec. 1, 2005: Fort Worth officer Henry "Hank" Nava died two days after he was shot while searching for a fugitive.
Dec. 17, 2006: Fort Worth officer Dwayne Freeto's patrol car was rear-ended and burst into flames along Interstate 35W.
SOURCES: Officer Down Memorial Page, http://www.odmp.org; Star-Telegram archives
Pierson, a Democrat, said her first bill is named for Darren Medlin, a Grapevine police officer killed in June 2004 when he was struck by a car during a traffic stop on Texas 121, and Dwayne Freeto, a Fort Worth patrol officer who died Dec. 17 while assisting a motorist with a flat tire on Interstate 35W.
Both men were 34, military veterans and the fathers of young children.
"We need to send a message that drinking and driving has tragic consequences," Pierson said. "There are too many police officers who put their lives at risk on busy thoroughfares all over this state, and they don't need to be subjected to further danger because of drunk drivers."
Pierson's House Bill 1212 would take intoxication assault from a third-degree felony to a second-degree felony if a police officer or firefighter were injured. The prison sentence, now two to 10 years, would increase to two to 20 years. The maximum fine, $10,000, would not change.
Intoxication manslaughter involving a police officer or firefighter would go from a second-degree felony to a first-degree felony, which carries a prison sentence of five to 99 years and a maximum fine of $10,000.
Two major law-enforcement support organizations heartily endorsed the measure.
"Anytime you enhance the punishment, part of the goal is to provide a greater deterrence to the offending behavior," said Chris Heaton, executive director of the Texas Municipal Police Association. "But too often, some folks don't think about the consequences, especially in cases of addictive behavior. So this would make sure those folks are placed in a position where they can't do any further harm."
Charley Wilkison, a spokesman for the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, agreed.
"If you make the roads safer for police and firefighters, you make the roads safer for everyone," he said.
Medlin, a four-year Grapevine police veteran who had served in the Marines, was killed in the pre-dawn hours of June 12, 2004. He was run down by a Lincoln driven by Roy Alvin Adams Jr. of Bedford.
The accident was captured on videotape in the officer's car. Adams was sentenced to 12 1/2 years in prison after being convicted of intoxication manslaughter.
Freeto had served in the Fort Worth Police Department for just nine months after being discharged from the Army. His patrol car was hit by a vehicle driven by 21-year-old Samuel Lee Hilburn. Freeto's car burst into flames. Hilburn, who was charged with intoxication manslaughter, was released from custody in late January after posting $100,000 bail.
ONLINE: www.capitol.state.tx.us
ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
Tarrant County law enforcement officers who have died in the past 15 years:
Sept. 2, 1992: Fort Worth officer Brent David Wisdom, 22, was killed when he was hit by a drunken driver while assisting a motorist.
Oct. 9, 1992: Arlington patrol officers Jerry J. Crocker, 43, and Terry L. Lewis, 35, were killed when their patrol car was hit by a drunken driver in a tractor-trailer rig.
March 6, 1993: Responding to a report of shots fired, Haltom City officer Gary Cecil Hires, 48, was shot in his car by a 14-year-old with a high-power rifle.
June 27, 1993: Fort Worth Detective Donald James Manning, 28, was shot while off-duty by five gang members who tried to rob him.
Dec. 27, 1993: Fort Worth officer Alan Frederick Chick, 33, was hit by a vehicle while assisting a motorist.
Aug. 3, 1994: Arlington officer Craig Michael Hanking, 26, was killed in an accident while responding to a burglary call.
March 31, 1994: Fort Worth officer Jesse Don Moorman, 47, died of a heart attack while chasing a burglary suspect.
Sept. 17, 1997: Tarrant County sheriff's Lt. George Maurice Hendrix Jr., 51, and investigator Thomas Jay Smith, 45, died in a helicopter crash.
June 7, 2001: Arlington Cpl. Joseph Cushman, 27, was accidentally shot during training.
April 24, 2002: White Settlement police Capt. George Scott Monier, 37, was shot responding to a domestic-disturbance call involving a gun.
June 12, 2004: Grapevine officer Darren Medlin was hit by a car during a traffic stop on Texas 121.
June 18, 2004: Grand Prairie officer Gregory Hunter was killed and officer Bruce Seix wounded by a man in a parked van during a standoff in a Grand Prairie Wal-Mart parking lot.
July 29, 2004: River Oaks officer Nathan Laurie was killed in a collision while chasing a stolen pickup.
Dec. 1, 2005: Fort Worth officer Henry "Hank" Nava died two days after he was shot while searching for a fugitive.
Dec. 17, 2006: Fort Worth officer Dwayne Freeto's patrol car was rear-ended and burst into flames along Interstate 35W.
SOURCES: Officer Down Memorial Page, http://www.odmp.org; Star-Telegram archives