Sen. Davis’ law enforcement protection bill goes to hearing

AUGUSTA – State Sen. Paul Davis, R-Sangerville has introduced legislation to protect law enforcement officers in the line of duty with LD 990 “An Act To Protect Law Enforcement Officers by Creating the Crime of Aggravated Assault on an Officer.” The Legislature’s criminal justice and public safety committee was scheduled to hold a public hearing on the bill on Monday, April 3.

Currently assault on an officer is a Class C felony. LD 990 would upgrade the crime to aggravated assault, which would classify as a Class B felony or a Class A felony if a firearm is present. If enacted, LD 990 would create the crime of aggravated assault on an officer, modeled after the crime of aggravated assault, to include offensive physical contact while the officer is on duty.

“With so many officers being assaulted and murdered, it seems that we should try to inhibit some of that, because all lives matter,” said Sen. Davis, a retired Maine State Trooper. “Sometimes stiffer penalties and higher crimes work.”

According to the most recent statistics in the Uniform Crime Reporting Program compiled by the Maine State Police — http://www.maine.gov/dps/cim/crime_in_maine/cim.htm — there were 185 assaults on law enforcement officers across the state in 2015 with one incident occuring in Piscataquis County.
Of the 185 assaults, 172 were by physical force, 12 were by non-firearm weapons and one was by knife. A total of 152 assaults did not involve personal injury while the other 33 cases resulted in a personal injury. The report said the 2015 assault rate per 100 officers was 8.1.

From 2011-15 the number of assaults on law enforcement officers ranged from a high of 200 in 2011 to a low of 173 in 2012 for an average of 184 annual incidents over the five years. In Piscataquis County there were two assaults in 2011 and 2013 and zero in 2012 and 2014.
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Ice fishing season in Maine has been extended this year until April 16, due to the unusually cold weather that has continued into spring.

The extended season is the result of legislative resolve LD 1218, sponsored by Sen. Davis that allows the commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to adopt emergency rules to extend the ice fishing season on the inland waters of the state if the extension is warranted due to weather conditions.

“While southern Maine lakes and ponds have seen significant thawing, many of those in the northern and western parts of the state are still covered with ice,” Sen. Davis said. “This will allow anglers who can’t take advantage of the open water season to keep fishing until mid-April.”

“I am glad we were able to work with the governor’s office to get this done quickly for the people of Maine,” he said.

Sen. Scott Cyrway (R-Benton), who chairs the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee, said, “I am pleased that we were able to expedite this matter so that Mainers can continue to go ice fishing and enjoy the great outdoors. I believe many people will take advantage of this extension.”
Ice conditions can change rapidly in the spring, so the ice thickness should always be tested before going out onto any waterways, Maine game wardens say.
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On Tuesday, April 4 Rep. Norm Higgins (R-Dover-Foxcroft) and Sen. Dr. Geoff Gratwick (D-Bangor) will be presenting LD 949 “An Act Regarding Teleheath, ”http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0304&item=1&snum=128

On his Facebook page Rep. Higgins wrote, “Five major concerns of seniors. #5 Dying – Not First? #4. Being broke and old. #3 Having our children take care of us. #2. Losing my drivers license. #1. Take a guess! How about being taken out of my home. Tuesday Senator/Dr. Gratwick (D-Bangor) and I are introducing legislation to promote telemedicine/health in Maine. We have been working on this complicated legislation for almost two years.

“My hope is we are driving the conversation on creating a health care system that views in-home monitoring a routine and everyday experience in our state. We are well aware turf issues and politics abound but let us begin. Every additional day a senior can continue to stay in their home is the least they should ask. May the sun shine on Tuesday!”