Federal bill aimed at increasing protections for police officers reintroduced in U.S. Senate
If passed, the ‘Back the Blue’ Act would create new federal crimes for killing, attempting to kill or assaulting officers, among other legal protections
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville, R- Ala. and Katie Britt, R- Ala., have both joined the reintroduction of the federal “Back the Blue” Act, which would increase penalties for those who target law enforcement officers, according to a news release from Tuberville’s office.
Tuberville cosponsored this legislation in the 118th Congress in 2023.
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“Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day when they go into the field to protect us,” Tuberville said in the release.
“We have to send a message loud and clear: violence against law enforcement will not be tolerated. After years of soft-on-crime policies that have weakened our justice system, it is important that we take a hard stance against any and every targeted attack toward our police officers.”
Tuberville and Britt were joined by nearly all of the Senate GOP in cosponsoring the legislation.
According to the release, the act would:
Strengthen Laws to Protect Police Officers
- Create a new federal crime for killing, attempting to kill, or conspiring to kill a federal judge, federal law enforcement officer, or federally funded public safety officer. The offender would be subject to the death penalty and a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years if death results; the offender would otherwise face a minimum sentence of 10 years.
- Create a new federal crime for assaulting a federally funded law enforcement officer with escalating penalties, including mandatory minimums, based on the extent of any injury and the use of a dangerous weapon. However, no prosecution can be commenced absent certification by the Attorney General that prosecution is appropriate.
- Create a new federal crime for interstate flight from justice to avoid prosecution for killing, attempting to kill, or conspiring to kill a federal judge, federal law enforcement officer, or federally funded public safety officer. The offender would be subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for this offense.
Create a Specific Aggravating Factor for Federal Death Penalty Prosecutions
- Clarify that the murder or attempted murder of a law enforcement officer or first responder is a statutory aggravating factor for purposes of the federal death penalty.
Limit Federal Habeas Relief for Murders of Law Enforcement Officers
- Impose time limits and substantive limits on federal courts’ review of challenges to state-court convictions for crimes involving the murder of a public safety officer, when the public safety officer was engaged in the performance of official duties or on account of the performance of official duties.
Limit Recovery of Certain Damages and Fees for Individuals Engaged in Felonies
- Limit the type of civil damages and attorney’s fees recoverable by a criminal as a result of purported injuries incurred during the commission of a felony or crime of violence.
Expand Self-Defense and Second Amendment Rights for Law Enforcement Officers
- Allow law enforcement officers, subject to limited regulation, to carry firearms into federal facilities and other jurisdictions where such possession is otherwise prohibited.
“As dangerous, violent threats and rhetoric rise against our courageous law enforcement officers, it is increasingly important that Congress ensures they have the protection and resources they deserve,” Britt said in a news release Monday.
“The Back the Blue Act honors their commitment to protecting our families, communities, and nation, and reaffirms our steadfast support for those who risk their lives every day to keep our nation safe.”
The act has been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition (NNOAC), Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies (ASCIA), and the Sergeants Benevolent Association NYPD.
“I will always back the blue and work to make sure these men and women are fully equipped with everything they need to keep us safe,” Tuberville added in his release.
Other Alabama legislators were successful this year in getting a localized “back the blue” bill passed.
Under HB202, Alabama police are justified in any use of physical force “performed within the law enforcement officer’s discretionary authority” unless the officer’s actions against a person violate that person’s rights under the U.S. Constitution or the Alabama Constitution.
Since Oct. 1, an officer charged for excessive use of force can ask for a pretrial hearing to determine if immunity applies under the new standards.
The judge would then hold the hearing within 45 days of the request and issue a decision within 45 days after the hearing.
In cases where the judge rules the officer does not qualify for immunity, the Alabama Supreme Court would review the decision.
The pretrial hearings are in addition to pretrial hearings already available to all citizens under the state’s stand-your-ground law, through which defendants can claim they acted in self-defense or in defense of another.
The bill was sponsored by Rep. Rex Reynolds, a former Huntsville police chief, and Sen. Lance Bell, an attorney and former deputy in St. Clair County.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said in May she agreed with Bell’s stance that, “This is about protecting them while they’re protecting us.
‘Back the Blue’ now is law in Alabama, but its impact is debated
“Back to Blue,” which took effect Oct. 1, offers a range of criminal and civil protections to law enforcement officers.
Published: Oct. 2, 2025 at 6:08 AM GMT+7
MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – A jury will decide whether Roy Adams Jr. is guilty of homicide by vehicle, but had the “Back the Blue” law been in force at the time, he might not have had to wait for a jury.
That law, which took effect Wednesday, offers a range of criminal and civil protections to law enforcement officers. At the time of the wreck, Adams was a Mobile police officer on duty. Under Back the Blue, he would have been entitled to a hearing, similar to a “stand your ground” hearing, in which a judge would have had to decide whether the charge should be dismissed.
“(We would) certainly jump at it, ’cause he’s certainly a good officer and a good person,” defense attorney Jeff Deen told FOX10 News. “But … we’re maintaining it was an unfortunate accident or wreck.”
The now-former officer is accused of recklessly running a red light and crashing into Air Force veteran Sumner “Kahuna” Howard on Old Shell Road and Mobile Infirmary Boulevard.
Although an early chance to knock out the charges would have been welcomed, Deen said, he questioned how big of a practical difference the new law will make. He said judges rarely grant “stand your ground” motions, preferring juries to make those decisions. He added that there already are mechanisms to get meritless charges thrown out.
“You’d hope if it was a bogus charge, the grand jury would throw it out (in) the first place, which happens a lot,” he said. “Very seldom do police officers get indicted.”
Deen said he believes the law might have a bigger impact in civil cases. As a Police Benevolent Association lawyer, he said, he favors the change.
“Now they’re kind of saying, ‘Well, a policeman’s doing something in his line of duty, somebody gets hurt or injured, and there’s no intent on the officer to hurt anybody, if somebody does get hurt, you can’t just come in and sue ’em,” he said.
Law enforcement officers already enjoy broad immunity. But Huey “Hoss” Mack, executive director of the Alabama Sheriffs Association, said it can take too long.
“That decision of immunity does not even come until the pretrial motions or the actual trial, itself,” he told FOX10 News. “So these cases can linger on for years. We had a case recently in the federal court system that involved this that went on for over eight years.”
That is a reference to a federal wrongful-death lawsuit filed against then-Cpl. Matthew Hunady, of the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. Hunady shot a man who was walking toward him while obscuring an object in his hands following a car wreck on Interstate 10 in 2017. The case began when Mack was sheriff and did not reach a judgment until a jury ruled in favor of Hunady in September.
Gov. Kay Ivey signed Back the Blue in May. It offers protection to officers performing a “legitimate job-related function” through “means that were within the law enforcement officer’s plausible power to utilize.”
The statute requires judges to “temporarily put aside” the possibility that an officer’s conduct may have been improper or unconstitutional and instead consider whether the conduct was within the “outer perimeter of a law enforcement officer’s governmental discretion in performing his or her official duties.”
If a judge at an early stage refuses to dismiss a case against an officer, he or she has the right to put the case on hold while appealing the ruling.
It is language like that that has drawn opposition from critics who worry the new law could make it harder to hold officers accountable when they do step over the line.
“That loophole is big enough to drive a bus through,” the Washington-based Constitutional Accountability Center wrote on its website. “What the heck is ‘plausible power’ and ‘outer perimeter’ of authorized conduct?”
Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch rejected those arguments.
“That’s talking points for people who are not particularly fond of law enforcement. … If you have a rogue officer, rogue deputy, they’ll be held accountable,” he told FOX10 News.
Burch said the new law will give his deputies benefits that are both symbolic and real.
“It’s huge giving officers some peace of mind that, you know, they have some coverage in performing their duties,” he said.
Mack also said criticisms of the initiative are misplaced.
“This does not remove anybody from filing a lawsuit or having a thorough investigation,” he said. “Those things are still going to be done. In fact, they have to be done in order for a judge in the pretrial situation to make that determination.”
Other laws now in effect
A number of other laws also took effect Wednesday:
- First responders rendering aid to police dogs now are immune to lawsuits.
- A new tax of 10 cents per milliliter on vaping products.
- Nursing mothers are exempt from jury duty.
- The “What is a Woman” law, which defines a person’s sex as fixed at birth.
- Raising the age of consent for medical services from 14 to 16.
- Stiffer penalties for shooting into occupied buildings or vehicles.
- “LuLu’s Law,” which creates an alert system for shark attacks.
Jacksonville police officer struck twice by suspect’s rifle; ‘This was a targeted and intentional attack,’ chief says
Default Mono Sans Mono Serif Sans Serif Comic Fancy Small CapsDefault X-Small Small Medium Large X-Large XX-LargeDefault Outline Dark Outline Light Outline Dark Bold Outline Light Bold Shadow Dark Shadow Light Shadow Dark Bold Shadow Light BoldDefault Black Silver Gray White Maroon Red Purple Fuchsia Green Lime Olive Yellow Navy Blue Teal Aqua OrangeDefault 100% 75% 50% 25% 0%Default Black Silver Gray White Maroon Red Purple Fuchsia Green Lime Olive Yellow Navy Blue Teal Aqua OrangeDefault 100% 75% 50% 25% 0%Jacksonville police officer struck twice by suspect’s rifle; ‘This was a targeted and intentional attack,’ chief says
By Travis Noriega and KLTV Digital Media Staff
Published: Nov. 5, 2025 at 2:45 AM GMT+7|Updated: Nov. 5, 2025 at 7:06 AM GMT+7
JACKSONVILLE, Texas (KLTV) – A Jacksonville police officer was shot twice while trying to take cover in a confrontation with a wanted suspect on Sunday.
The Jacksonville Police Department held a briefing on the second day of a manhunt for the suspect, Bobby Michael Dennis, 64.
The reward for information leading to Dennis’ arrest has been increased to $21,000.Markasky said the officer was struck once in the arm and she tried to take cover and she was then struck in the leg.
How it happened
Police Chief Steven Markasky said the officer was patrolling the 1100 block of Churchill Street when she saw Dennis, who had outstanding warrants in Cherokee County for obstruction and retaliation, standing outside of his home. According to Chief Markasky, law enforcement has been looking for Dennis since early October.
The officer approached Dennis, calling out to him as “Mr. Dennis” and asked him to come to her when he moved behind his residence. According to Markasky, the officer then saw Dennis holding an AR-15.
Markasky said the officer ran to use her patrol unit for cover when Dennis began firing at her. Several rounds pierced the patrol unit, hitting the officer’s K-9 partner, Renzo.
Markasky said the officer then attempted to run to a nearby residence for more cover when she was struck once in the arm, falling to the ground. The officer got back up and continued to run for cover as Dennis continued firing at her.
“Her bravery and will to survive under gunfire represent the very best of what it means to wear this badge,” Markasky said.
Markasky said the officer reached a wooded area and fell again while attempting to call for help with her radio. Markasky said Dennis continued to fire at the officer and hit her once more, in the leg, while she was on the ground. Markasky said the officer got up again and ran deeper into the woodline before Dennis fled as backup unit arrived.
“It is important to note that at no point during this incident did the officer fire or even draw her weapon,” Markasky said. “Her right arm was incapacitated from a gunshot wound almost immediately. She was in full retreat while under heavy fire. The K-9 was also never deployed from the vehicle.”
According to Markasky, responding personnel quickly located the injured officer, who had already attempted to apply a tourniquet to her arm, and began emergency medical aid. The injured officer was flown to a Tyler hospital where she underwent emergency surgery. She is currently stable and recovering. K-9 Renzo was also taken to an emergency vet clinic in Tyler, where he is still being treated.
‘Targeted, intentional attack’
“Let me be perfectly clear. This is not a misunderstanding. This is a targeted, intentional attack on a uniformed police officer for doing her job,” Markasky said. “Bobby Michael Dennis is a violent criminal who chooses to fire an assault rifle at an officer, who simply called him out by name. His actions are nothing short of evil, and his willingness to endanger an officer, a K-9, and the surrounding neighborhood shows complete disregard for human life.”
JPD spokesperson Corporal Amanda Bragg said that the bodycam video of the officer’s encounter with Dennis and the officer’s name will not be released publicly while the investigation is ongoing
“She deserves the privacy as she heals,” Bragg said. “And allow her not to have to relive the trauma that she’s been exposed to.”
JPD, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s office, and many more law enforcement agencies are working together to locate and arrest Dennis.
Gov. Greg Abbott has also announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Dennis. Cherokee County Crimestoppers was offering a $1,000 reward, however, the reward has increased to $11,000 after an anonymous donor added an additional $10,000.
Previous legal issues with suspect
Federal court records confirm Dennis filed a lawsuit against the City of Jacksonville on June 30. The lawsuit was dismissed on Oct. 22 after Dennis did not pay $405 in court filing fees.
In the handwritten complaint, Dennis states municipal and county courts did not have the authority to order him to appear in court.
“I have been kidnapped twice and held against my will for refusing to give consent…placing me in danger and in harm’s way…any government corporate body including police, judges and lawyers must cease immediately,” Dennis wrote.
A magistrate judge made a recommendation on July 31 that the lawsuit be dismissed because Dennis did not pay a filing fee nor file an application that filing fees be waived. Dennis was given 14 days to submit an objection.
On Oct. 22, a federal judge accepted the magistrate judge’s recommendation and dismissed the lawsuit.
Suspect description released
According to a Blue Alert, issued by Texas DPS, Dennis is 5 feet 10 inches tall, 152 pounds, and has a gray 2000 GMC Sierra with license plates TRW3919.
The manhunt for Dennis has caused Jacksonville schools to remain closed on Monday and Tuesday, but the district has now said that they will open school again on Wednesday:
All JISD campuses will reopen on a regular schedule tomorrow, Wednesday, November 5. The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority, and we will continue to work closely with law enforcement to ensure a safe and secure learning environment. We look forward to seeing everyone back. Thank you.
If you know where Dennis is, you are asked to share the tip in either of these two ways.
- Call the Texas Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477)
- Submit a web tip through the Texas 10 Most Wanted website
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