State Representative
Rich Stanek

(ST. PAUL) The 2000 Minnesota Legislature considered and enacted several measures that will give law enforcement officers more firepower for doing their jobs, said House Crime Prevention Committee Chairman Rich Stanek, a Maple Grove Republican and Minneapolis police captain.

The measure that received the most attention was "Katie's Law." This measure tightens registration rules for released sex offenders, makes it a felony to fail to register, and sets longer prison terms for rapists. Tied to this popular proposal was vital funding for networking the 1,100 independent law enforcement computer systems across the state.

The Legislature also funded Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) improvements and a new St. Paul BCA headquarters. Last year, improvements in the Bemidji BCA satellite office were funded.

In addition, two potentially dangerous situations involving police and peace officers are now criminal offenses under Minnesota state law.

Suspects can now be charged with a gross misdemeanor for assaulting an officer, even if it does not cause "demonstrable bodily harm," said Stanek, whose committee approved the legislation. The provision stems from a situation when an officer was struck in the groin by a suspect resisting arrest.

Another important change makes escape from police custody-- prior to being charged a felony. Previous law allowed the felony charge to be made only on escapees who fled after being charged or convicted.

Officer Lyall Delany of the Minneapolis Police Officers' Federation testified during hearings in Stanek's committee in April. He said that, for officers, every arrest has the potential to turn into something more dangerous. But without a serious penalty, charges against those who interfere with police officers' ability to do their job are not pursued. With the new penalty, officers hope that violence against them will also be prevented.

For more information on these or other new laws, contact Stanek's office.

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