Governor Tim Walz is expected to sign a bill that has just passed in the Senate Wednesday. It would impose tougher criminal penalties for people who impersonate police, and follows political attacks on lawmakers in the state last summer.
Last June, former House Speaker Melissa Hortman was assassinated, along with her husband Mark. State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also shot and severely injured.
Hoffman authored the bill, after he was shot nine times in the attack.
"When I answered the door on June 14th, I did so because of the trust," said Hoffman. "And I never want another person in this state to have that trust shattered. With today's bill, Mr. President, we're making sure it never happens again."
The alleged assassin, Vance Boelter, wore a police officer mask and drove a vehicle that even included emergency lights when he killed the Hortman's and wounded the Hoffmans.
Senator Jeff How described how a real police officer knocked on his door on the morning on June 14, as they scrambled to protect and alert other state lawmakers during what became the largest manhunt in Minnesota history.
"He came inside my house, and then he told me what had happened," says How. "And what little hair I have on my head stood straight up."
The bill would make impersonating a police officer a felony. It is currently a misdemeanor.
