COLUMBUS â State Senator Chris Widener (R- Springfield) on Tuesday introduced a bill that seeks to provide law enforcement officers with greater protection by notifying them when an individual they have come in contact with has been placed on âconditional release.â
Widener is co-sponsoring the bill with fellow Republican Senator Bill Beagle of Tipp City.
Senate Bill 7 was inspired by a New Yearâs Day 2011 incident in which Clark County Sheriff's Deputy Suzanne Hopper was killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call. It was discovered later that her attacker was on conditional release â a designation given to those individuals who are declared incompetent to stand trial or found not guilty by reason of insanity. Although the court system was aware of the status of Hopperâs attacker, this information was not available to local law enforcement.
âOur law enforcement officers place their lives at risk each day to protect our families and communities, and they should have access to any and all information that will help keep them safe as they go about their duties,â Widener said. âThis bill will give officers crucial background information on individuals they encounter. If we can prevent just one tragedy like the one that took the life of Deputy Hopper, we will have honored her life and her familyâs loss.â
Under Senate Bill 7, the Law Enforcement Automated Data System (LEADS) will notify law enforcement personnel when individuals they encounter have been placed on conditional release.
Senate Bill 7 will now be assigned to a Senate Committee for further consideration.
For more information, click here.
Widener is co-sponsoring the bill with fellow Republican Senator Bill Beagle of Tipp City.
Senate Bill 7 was inspired by a New Yearâs Day 2011 incident in which Clark County Sheriff's Deputy Suzanne Hopper was killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call. It was discovered later that her attacker was on conditional release â a designation given to those individuals who are declared incompetent to stand trial or found not guilty by reason of insanity. Although the court system was aware of the status of Hopperâs attacker, this information was not available to local law enforcement.
âOur law enforcement officers place their lives at risk each day to protect our families and communities, and they should have access to any and all information that will help keep them safe as they go about their duties,â Widener said. âThis bill will give officers crucial background information on individuals they encounter. If we can prevent just one tragedy like the one that took the life of Deputy Hopper, we will have honored her life and her familyâs loss.â
Under Senate Bill 7, the Law Enforcement Automated Data System (LEADS) will notify law enforcement personnel when individuals they encounter have been placed on conditional release.
Senate Bill 7 will now be assigned to a Senate Committee for further consideration.
For more information, click here.
