Legislation intended to increase penalties for those who attempt to kill law enforcement officers is moving forward in Harrisburg. The Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Senator Lisa Baker, voted 8-5 this week to advance Senate Bill 1284. Senator Baker is sponsoring the measure alongside Senator Rosemary Brown.
The bill was introduced to address what officials describe as a significant flaw in Pennsylvania law that was exposed following a violent incident in 2024. During that incident, Scranton Police Detective Kyle Gilmartin was critically injured after being ambushed and shot twice in the head while investigating gang activity.
Currently, proponents of the bill argue that a sentencing gap exists that does not adequately punish the attempted murder of officers compared to other violent offenses. If passed, Senate Bill 1284 would ensure that individuals convicted of such crimes face significantly harsher sentences. The proposal now moves to the full Senate for further consideration.
