For Immediate Release
Date: Feb. 28, 2006/tia
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News from Senator Peter Roskam Senate Republican Whip | ||
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| 315 West Wesley Street | 309H State House | ||
| Wheaton, Illinois 60187 | Springfield, Illinois 62706 | ||
| 630-690-4500 | 217/782-8022 | ||
| http://www.peterroskam.com/contact.html | |||
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For Immediate Release |
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Date: Feb. 28, 2006/tia |
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Senate approves Roskam bill increasing the penalties for impersonating police officers
Springfield, IL – The Illinois Senate today approved legislation increasing the penalties for illegally impersonating a police officer, according to State Senator Peter Roskam (R-Wheaton), the lead sponsor of the measure.
The legislation (SB 2971) increases the penalty for impersonating a law enforcement officer from a class 3 felony to a class 2 felony. In addition, Senate Bill 2971 makes it a class 1 felony for an individual to attempt a forcible felony (an act of violence against another person) while impersonating a law enforcement officer. It would also allow courts to impose consecutive sentences for crimes individuals commit while in the act of impersonating a police officer.
Roskam said the legislation is the result of a series of articles published in the Chicago Sun Times in January. The articles highlighted several severe cases of individuals illegally pretending to be police officers and using their fake identity to commit crimes.
“It is instinctive for most citizens to trust an officer of the law,” Roskam said. “What these criminals do is they deliberately use that trust to commit crimes. Police impersonators traumatize their victims and do not provide any explanation for what they are doing. In many cases, these impersonators inflict physical harm on their victims. We need to send a strong message that impersonating a police officer is not a joke. It is a serious offense with serious consequences.”
In the last three years, there have been more than 1,000 incidents of individuals illegally impersonating police officers. Some of these incidents involved rape and sexual assault.
Senate Bill 2971 now moves to the House for further consideration.
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