Bill seeks death penalty for cop killers in Massachusetts

Due to recent attacks on officers in Massachusetts, two Bay State lawmakers have filed a bill that they hope will show support for the men and women in blue.

According to the Boston Herald, two republicans, Rep. Shaunna O’Connell of Taunton and Rep. David DeCoste of Norwell, filed a bill to have the option to sentence adults over the age of 18 to death if they are convicted of murdering a police officer.

Republican Rep. Shawn Dooley of Norfolk filed a similar bill in January.

According to the Herald, Massachusetts Citizens Against the Death Penalty is not in favor of the measure as the death penalty “perpetuates a cycle of revenge.” The co-chair feels that an officer’s life is not worth more than the average person.

Governor Baker has expressed his opinion in the past that he feels people who kill law enforcement should get the death penalty.

Weymouth Sgt. Michael Chesna (2018), Yarmouth Sgt. Sean Gannon (2018), and Auburn police officer Ronald Tarentino (2016), were all recently killed by suspects in the line of duty.

Here is a copy of the earlier bill filed by Rep. Shawn Dooley.

[pdf-embedder url=”https://fallriverreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/H3769.pdf”]