Officers speak on Back the Badge

The Back the Badge law, now in effect in our state, is put in place to deter against violence against our law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency workers.
This law expands Mississippi’s existing hate crimes law, which enhances penalties for crimes committed because of a victim’s race, religion, national origin or gender. Supporters who filed the Back the Badge Act did so in response to the killings of police officers last year in Dallas and Baton Rouge.
Earlier this week a New York police officer was killed in the line of duty and just yesterday Pascagoula police officers investigating a drive by shooting were targets. Lt. Doug Adams with the Pascagoula Police Department said, “It doesn’t really matter how stiff the penalty is. If people are going to commit violence against somebody they’re going to do it. I think it’s a good thing they increased it, don’t get me wrong, but it’s just like domestic violence or anything else. If you’re going to violate the law and hurt somebody it doesn’t matter, you’re not concerned with what the penalty is.”
The measure says it shouldn’t be interpreted to limit free speech, addressing concerns about people being punished for protesting police behavior.