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03/28/2024 07:41 AM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20170&cosponId=24672
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House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: October 4, 2017 09:51 AM
From: Representative Frank Burns
To: All House members
Subject: Eluding a Police Officer
 
In the near future, I intend to introduce legislation increasing the penalties for those who try to elude law enforcement and, in doing so, injure or kill the officer.

My legislation would raise the penalty for fleeing a police officer by motor vehicle from a misdemeanor of the second degree to a felony of the third degree, and create a new first-degree felony offense for seriously injuring or killing an officer while fleeing. Additionally, because not all suspects flee by vehicle, my bill would expand the offense of resisting arrest to include fleeing or eluding an officer no matter the mode of transportation and make it a felony of the first degree if doing so causes serious injury or death to the officer.

This bill was inspired by the tragic case of 29-year-old Patrolman John Wilding, who died in 2015 from a head injury sustained while chasing three armed robbery suspects. Wilding jumped a fence during the chase and fell down a 15-foot drop. He left behind a wife and two young children. As a member of the Blue Lives Matter Caucus, I believe we need to do all we can to protect those who serve and protect us. By increasing the penalties for resisting arrest, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, it is my hope that suspects will think twice before endangering these public servants.

Please join me in sponsoring this vital legislation.



Introduced as HB1857