HB 194 -- Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer

Co-Sponsors:  Stevenson, Jackson, Smith (14), Bruns, Dixon,
Deeken, Moore, Wilson (130), Bough, Emery, Baker, Wallace

This bill creates the crime of assault on a firefighter in the
first, second, and third degrees.  The bill also changes the
elements for the crimes of assault on a law enforcement officer
in the first, second, and third degrees.

In changing the elements of these crimes, the bill:

(1)  Requires that the assault on a law enforcement officer or
firefighter was made to either prevent the officer from
performing his official duties or in retaliation for his
performing those duties;

(2)  Clarifies that "knowingly" causing or attempting to cause
physical injury to a law enforcement officer or firefighter means
that the offender knew that the victim was a law enforcement
officer or firefighter;

(3)  Makes it a class C felony to:

(a)  recklessly engage in conduct that creates a substantial risk
of death or serious injury to a law enforcement officer or
firefighter; or

(b)  negligently injure a law enforcement officer or firefighter
by means of a deadly weapon.

Under current law, these crimes are assault on a law enforcement
officer in the third degree, a class A misdemeanor;

(4)  Makes it a class C felony to knowingly place a law
enforcement officer or firefighter in apprehension of "serious"
physical injury.  Without the term "serious," the same act is a
class A misdemeanor; and

(5)  Makes it a class C felony to knowingly cause or attempt to
cause physical injury to a law enforcement officer or firefighter
when the offender conceals his identity.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated July 25, 2003 at 10:11 am