Higher Punishments for Offenses Against Police Passes House

Intro:	Missouri's House voted to crack down on crimes against cops.
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Wrap: St. Louis County Representative Marsha Haefner said raising punishments is necessary to proactively protect law enforcement officers.

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Description: It's intended to protect the men and women in law enforcement who have dedicated their lives to serving us and protecting us and our property.

Black Democrats said the measure would disproportionately affect African-American Missourians. All nineteen black House Democrats voted against the measure.

The vote comes just days after a white committee chairman abruptly ended the Missouri NAACP President's testimony.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jack Morrisroe.

Intro:	The House's vote to further punish cop killers triggered a racial debate.
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Wrap: St. Louis City Representative Bruce Franks Jr. said interactions with cops as a black man can go wrong.

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Description: You obeying the law and me obeying the law still can turn out different and often does.

Most Republicans said police should be further protected at all times, not just while in uniform.

The measure would raise penalties for crimes against cops, including manslaughter, property damage and trespassing. Rioting under certain circumstances would become a felony.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jack Morrisroe.

Intro:	Those who kill and hurt cops would face harsher penalties under a House-approved bill.
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Wrap: Law enforcement officer and Republican Representative Shawn Rhoads said cops should be further protected from being hurt.

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Description: You do have people that want to serve their community that get targeted because of the uniform they wear.

Black Democrats said the measure would affect African-Americans more often. More white Democrats voted for the measure than against, while all black Democrats voted against the bill.

Rioting would become a felony when a cop is a victim under this measure.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jack Morrisroe.

Intro:	A majority of blacks in Missouri's House voted against increased penalties for crimes against cops.
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Wrap: Democratic Representative Brandon Ellington said the penalties would allow law enforcement to violate the rights of civilians.

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Description: This has nothing to do with American values. This has everything to do with fear legislation which creates an institution that is above the citizens that they're supposed to protect.

Most Republicans said police officers should be further protected from being targeted. The only black representative in Missouri's House voted for the measure.

All nineteen black Democrats voted against the bill.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jack Morrisroe.

Intro:	The Missouri House approved an alert system to find alleged cop killers.
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Wrap: The measure would be an amber alert for suspects of violence against a cop.

Lake St. Louis Representative Justin Hill said police officers need to be protected, specifically a Ballwin officer who was shot during a traffic stop.

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Description: Our officers are being attacked, are being ambushed. We need to show them that we do back the badge and I hope this bill gives some small comfort to Officer Flamion and other officers in the state of Missouri.

House Democratic Leader Gail McCann Beatty said innocent people may be hurt if they match the suspect's description.

An amendment would make false reports that cause serious injury a felony.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jack Morrisroe.