Legislation that would make it a crime to be within 25 feet of a working law enforcement officer who told the person to retreat or stop passed the full House in an 81-20 vote. Thibodaux Representative Bryan Fontenot, who is a former sheriff’s deputy, says he’s trying to protect officers with this bill…
“This person may not be choosing to be interfering with the duties but in their brain could be thinking to do something harmful to an officer. So we creating a safe distance for the officer to make an arrest.”
The bill was approved last year but vetoed by then Governor John Bel Edwards.
Opponents raised concerns about constitutional rights and whether on lookers can still get good video of potential police misconduct. Fontenot says 25 feet is a sufficient distance.
“I took my cell phone and I zoomed in. I looked at what I could see on a piece of paper. Could I see the officer’s name? So 25 feet is a good safe distance and ensures that people get a good visual and it does what law enforcement professional wants and that’s to give them a safe space to do their job.”
If the bill becomes law, violators could face fines up to $500 and up to 60 days in jail. Fontenot says police officers never know if the person approaching needs help, has a question, or means them harm. He says this gives law enforcement a safe distance to react.
“We’ve tested over and over again the safe distance of which an officer has time to react to a perpetrator who may be violent. So we’re creating a safe distance for that officer to effectually make an arrest.”
The bill heads to the Senate.
